Posted By Kenneth Patrick many products contain formaldehyde, shampoo for example. I would not think that you would have to do an RA on the formaldehyde content of them.

Posted By Bryan Goldsmith 16052 You will find a wealth of guidance on Formaldehyde in the NHS Estates and Health Sector - particularly - Pathology Websites. I have dealt with it in the past but would most likely be a little out of date now. It was as I remember both a Respiratory and Skin Sensitiser. There are various products such as Formaline which are Formaldehyde derivatives. Regards Bryan

Posted By Kevin B. Jones Hi all, thanks for the help so far... I cannot give the name of the product as it is a clients (I would be getting into trouble!) It formaldehyde based (not just a little in say shampoo). It has a R phrase "R68 Possible risk of irreversible effects". The EH40 states 8 hour TWA 2ppm. Obviously the EH40 is an HSC/ UK document. I am looking for European exposure limits and a justification (for or against) health surveillance Regards, Kevin

Posted By Chris Packham Kevin Formaldehyde is a well established skin sensitiser. Patch testing is carried out at 1% in water. If your concentration is greater than this you will certainly need to identify it on the safety data sheet and labelling. As far as skin health surveillance is concerned, if there is any possibility of people being exposed then skin health surveillance in the U.K. (and I suspect in most of the EU and many other countries) will be mandatory. The safety data sheet will need to state which type of glove material is suitable. Without knowing the complete consituents it isn't possible to comment on this, but formaldehyde itself will require a reasonably thick nitrile, polychloroprene, butyl or Viton glove. (Natural rubber is generally not suitable unless the concentration is very low.) However, other substances in your preparation may modify this. Chris