Formaldehyde News and Research

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Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical that is used to manufacture building materials and to produce many household products. Formaldehyde sources in the home include pressed-wood products, cigarette smoke, and fuel-burning appliances. When exposed to formaldehyde, some individuals may experience various short-term health effects. Formaldehyde has been classified as a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Research studies of workers exposed to formaldehyde have suggested an association between formaldehyde exposure and cancers of the nasal sinuses, nasopharynx, and brain, and possibly leukemia.

High-dose folic acid appears safe from formaldehyde toxicity

Folic acid – an essential vitamin added to flour and cereals and prescribed at high doses for cancer patients and people with blood disorders – does not elevate toxic formaldehyde in the body, according to a new Cornell University study on mice and human cancer patients who consumed high doses.

2 Sep 2026

Study highlights potential heart dangers from e-cigarette chemicals

Is vaping bad for my health? As people who use e-cigarettes and their loved ones pose questions like this, growing scientific evidence shows that the answer is yes.

29 Jun 2026

NHS pathology staff face unsafe formaldehyde exposure levels

Routine exposure to harmful levels of the human tissue preservative formaldehyde are risking the health of thousands of NHS staff working in pathology departments across the UK, due to poor monitoring and control, finds an analysis of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, published online in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine.

9 Jun 2026

Health workers face hidden exposure to cancer-linked hazards

A study reveals high exposure to cancer risk factors among health and social care workers in Europe, underscoring the need for enhanced protective measures.

1 Jun 2026

High-puff disposable vapes may accumulate harmful toxic chemicals

A University of California, Riverside-led study has found that heavily used high-puff electronic cigarettes may contain higher levels of harmful chemicals than fresh e-cigarettes, raising concerns about potential health risks for users.

28 May 2026

European health sector workers face significant workplace carcinogen exposure

Exposure to cancer risk factors in the workplace remains an important and preventable cause of disease in Europe.

27 May 2026

Toxic compounds found in synthetic and natural hair extensions

Chemical analysis of hair extensions uncovers hazardous substances, emphasizing the need for improved regulation and transparency in the beauty industry.

16 Feb 2026

DNA repair enzyme failure triggers inflammation and accelerates aging in cells

If severe DNA damage is not repaired, the consequences for the health of cells and tissues are dramatic.

30 Jan 2026

GOP promotes MAHA agenda in bid to avert midterm losses. Dems point to contradictions.

When a "Make America Healthy Again" summit was held at the posh Waldorf Astoria in Washington, the line of attendees stretched down the block.

20 Jan 2026

Indoor environments expose people to a growing mix of new contaminants

Indoor dust, air and everyday products are exposing people to a growing mix of "new contaminants" inside homes, schools and workplaces, according to a new perspective published in the journal New Contaminants.

13 Dec 2025

Global cancer cases and deaths expected to soar by 2050 despite advances in treatment

There has been a rapid increase in the global number of cancer cases and deaths between 1990 and 2023, despite advances in cancer treatment and efforts to tackle cancer risk factors over that same time period.

24 Sep 2025

How dietary formaldehyde links to worsening diabetes and memory loss

A new review reveals how everyday foods and hidden exposures to formaldehyde may fuel insulin resistance and chip away at memory, but also points to dietary patterns and emerging therapies that could help reduce the risk.

20 Aug 2025

Study identifies mechanism that helps prevent cancer, neurodegeneration, and premature aging

Researchers at the University of Oxford and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have uncovered the mechanism by which cells identify and repair a highly toxic form of DNA damage that causes cancer, neurodegeneration, and premature aging.

21 Jul 2025

Vaping linked to higher COPD risk, meta-analysis finds

A comprehensive meta-analysis of over 4.3 million adults shows e-cigarette use is associated with significantly higher odds of developing COPD. The risk persists even after adjusting for smoking history, with former users at even greater risk than current users.

8 Jul 2025

Using gas stoves at home significantly increases cancer risk

A new study in the Journal of Hazardous Materials modeled benzene emissions from the top 5% of gas stoves in U.S. homes, finding elevated cancer risks, especially for children, in poorly ventilated spaces. Using validated simulations, the researchers estimated up to 69 additional leukemia cases annually under high-use, unventilated scenarios.

10 May 2025

Vaping while pregnant isn't harmless—study uncovers risks to newborn lung health

Researchers found that e-cigarette exposure during pregnancy can disrupt fetal lung development, increase oxidative stress, and heighten the risk of respiratory diseases in newborns.

27 Feb 2025

Study highlights dangers of burning incense for allergy and asthma patients

In many cultures, it is common to burn incense for religious and cultural practices, including meditations, celebrations and spiritual and ancestral worship.

24 Oct 2024

Early bedtime boosts children's gut health by increasing beneficial bacteria

Study reveals that children who go to bed early have a more diverse and healthier gut microbiome compared to late sleepers, suggesting a link between sleep habits and gut health. It also highlights key metabolic pathways that differ between early and late sleepers.

8 Oct 2024

Unexpected benzene levels in popular acne and rosacea products

Investigators have determined that a substantial portion of topical benzoyl peroxide (BPO) acne and rosacea treatments currently on the market are unstable and contain unacceptably high levels of benzene, a known human carcinogen.

7 Oct 2024

Breakthrough in understanding formaldehyde toxicity during development and aging

AMeD syndrome is a severe genetic condition found in children that present with accelerated aging, global developmental delay and bone marrow failure, among others, progressing to Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

13 Sep 2024