Formaldehyde solution 37%

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW Flammable. Toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed. Causes burns. May cause sensitization by skin contact. May cause cancer.

Potential health effects

Eye: Causes eye burns. Skin: Causes skin burns. May cause skin sensitization, an allergic reaction, which becomes evident upon re-exposure to this material. Ingestion: May be fatal or cause blindness if swallowed. May cause liver and kidney damage. May cause burns to the digestive tract. May cause central nervous system depression. Inhalation: Inhalation of high concentrations may cause central nervous system effects characterized by nausea, headache, dizziness, unconsciousness and coma. Causes respiratory tract irritation. May cause asthmatic attacks due to allergic sensitization of the respiratory tract. Aspiration may lead to pulmonary edema. Vapors may cause dizziness or suffocation. May cause burning sensation in the chest. Chronic: Contains formaldehyde which can cause cancer in humans. There is sufficient evidence that formaldehyde causes nasopharyngeal cancer in humans, a rare cancer in developed countries. There is limited evidence that formaldehyde causes cancer of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses and strong but not sufficient evidence for leukemia. Repeated exposure may cause skin discoloration and thickening and nail decay.