Research Plus

Formaldehyde cancer risk

Millions of people worldwide are exposed to formaldehyde in a wide range of occupations, from pathologists to chemical workers. This updated meta-analysis incorporates 13 cohort studies and one nested case–control study meeting inclusion criteria. There is a significant raised risk of leukaemia (relative risk (RR) = 1.53) and specifically of myeloid leukaemia risk (RR = 2.47) from exposure to formaldehyde. However, a single large UK study of chemical workers found a relative risk less than 1.0.

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2010; 52(9): 878–886.

Tags cancer evidence based practice hazardous substances

Occupational Health at Work October/November 2010 (vol. 07/3) pp40