Regulation of Formaldehyde Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act

Certain products containing formaldehyde are considered pesticides under federal law because they are intended to be used to control microorganisms and other pests. Formaldehyde is registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to disinfect various agricultural premises and such as citrus packing houses, egg hatcheries, poultry and swine confinement buildings, and mushroom houses; as a preservative to extend the shelf life of industrial and household consumer products such as laundry, automotive cleaning products, and household cleaners; and in industrial oil and gas injection water to prevent microbial contamination. There is also a special local needs (SLN) registration for the use of formaldehyde to control nematodes, insects, and fungus on ornamental flower bulbs in Washington State.

Paraformaldehyde, which releases formaldehyde, is registered under FIFRA to sterilize laboratory facilities and equipment and to disinfect leaf cutting bee nest materials. Paraformaldehyde is also registered as a mildewcide to eliminate odor causing bacteria in unoccupied vacation homes and trailers during the off season and various storage areas in occupied homes.

EPA is evaluating formaldehyde under FIFRA as part of registration review, a process EPA conducts for all currently registered pesticides every 15 years to ensure that products can carry out their intended function without creating unreasonable adverse effects to human health and the environment.

The actions below outline the steps EPA has taken to date.

Draft Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment

In April 2024, EPA released the FIFRA draft risk assessment (DRA), evaluating the pesticidal uses of formaldehyde. There will be a 60-day public comment period closing on June 18, 2024. View the docket for this chemical, EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0739, on www.regulations.gov.

In addition to the registration review being conducted under FIFRA, formaldehyde is concurrently undergoing review under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) risk evaluation process. EPA found that workers who may be exposed to formaldehyde used to preserve cleaning products are at risk from inhaling formaldehyde after it is released into the air or by making skin contact with the preserved materials. EPA also found that workers who may use formaldehyde or paraformaldehyde to fumigate various agricultural, commercial, industrial, or institutional areas are at risk of sensory irritation from inhaling formaldehyde and allergic reactions of the skin.

Additionally, EPA found that consumers who use automotive cleaning products and household cleaners that are preserved with formaldehyde are at risk of sensory irritation and allergic reactions of the skin and at an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer. However, a person’s risk from these products depends on how long and how frequently the products are used, and in many cases, exposures from these products are at the same or lower levels than exposures from other sources of formaldehyde in the home such as candles or cooking.

EPA also evaluated formaldehyde’s impact on the environment and found the potential for risk to terrestrial organisms from the registered pesticidal uses of formaldehyde and paraformaldehyde to fumigate various agricultural, commercial, and industrial areas. In addition, it is possible that uses to treat ornamental bulbs could result in exposures to terrestrial and aquatic environments that are of concern. EPA is asking for more information on this use of formaldehyde to treat ornamental bulbs to refine this risk conclusion. There is low potential for risks to aquatic organisms for the other pesticidal uses of formaldehyde.