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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.

The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.

Diss Factsheets

Environmental fate & pathways

Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour

Administrative data

Endpoint:
additional information on environmental fate and behaviour
Remarks:
natural occurance
Type of information:
other: monitoring data
Adequacy of study:
supporting study
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: Review article

Data source

Referenceopen allclose all

Reference Type:
publication
Title:
An Ecological Risk Assessment of Formaldehyde
Author:
Chénier, Robert
Year:
2003
Bibliographic source:
Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal
9/2,483-509 3/2003
Reference Type:
publication
Title:
Formaldehyde. Environmental Health Criteria 89.
Author:
WHO (World Health Organization)
Year:
1989
Bibliographic source:
International Programme on Chemical Safety, Geneva, Switzerland
Reference Type:
publication
Title:
Formation of carbonyl compounds from UVinduced photodegradation of humic substances in natural waters: Fate of riverine carbon in the sea
Author:
Kieber RJ, Zhou X, and Mopper K.
Year:
1990
Bibliographic source:
Limnol Oceanogr 35:1503-15
Reference Type:
publication
Title:
Monitoring Firefighter Exposure to Air Toxins at Prescribed Burns of Forest and Range Biomass.
Author:
Reinhardt TE
Year:
1991
Bibliographic source:
Research Paper PNW-RP-441. Pacific Northwest Research Station, Forest Service, US Department of Agriculture, Portland, OR, USA
Reference Type:
review article or handbook
Title:
Handbook of Environmental Fate and Exposure Data for Organic Chemicals, vol 1. Large Production and Priority Pollutants
Author:
Howard PH.
Year:
1989
Bibliographic source:
pp 101–6. Lewis Publishers, Chelsea, MI, USA

Materials and methods

Results and discussion

Any other information on results incl. tables

Natural occurance is described in Chenier, 2003 based on several publications:


Formaldehyde occurs naturally in the environment and is the product of many natural processes. It is released during biomass combustion, such as forest and bush fires (Howard 1989; Reinhardt 1991). In water, it is also formed by the irradiation of humic substances by sunlight (Kieber et al. 1990). As a metabolic intermediate, formaldehyde is present at low levels in most living organisms (WHO 1989; IARC 1995). Studies have found it to be emitted by bacteria, algae, plankton and vegetation.

Applicant's summary and conclusion