T3DB Logo

Showing toxin card for Formaldehyde (T3D0244)

Legend: toxin field target field

Version 1.0
Creation Date 2009-03-06 18:58:21
Update Date 2010-03-18 21:52:35
Accession Number T3D0244
Name Formaldehyde
Compound Type
  • Aldehyde
  • Cosmetic Toxin
  • Industrial Precursor/Intermediate
  • Organic Compound
Description Formaldehyde is a colorless gas that is naturally produced in small amounts in our bodies. Formaldehyde is used in the production of fertilizer, paper, plywood, and urea-formaldehyde resins. It is also also used as a preservative in some foods and in many products used around the house, such as antiseptics, medicines, and cosmetics. (S313)
Synonyms
  1. AldAcide
  2. Aldehyd mravenci
  3. Aldehyd mravenci [czech]
  4. Aldehyde formique
  5. Aldehyde formique [french]
  6. Aldehyde formique [iso-french]
  7. Aldeide formica
  8. Aldeide formica [italian]
  9. BFV
  10. CH2O
  11. CMO
  12. Carbon monoxide
  13. Carbon oxide
  14. Carbon oxide (co)
  15. Cetone
  16. Chloditan
  17. Chlodithan
  18. Chlodithane
  19. Dialkyl ketone
  20. Dialkyl ketones
  21. Dormol
  22. Durine
  23. Dyna-form
  24. F-gen
  25. FA
  26. FOR
  27. FYDE
  28. Fannoform
  29. Flo-mor
  30. Floguard 1015
  31. Fordor
  32. Formagene
  33. Formaldehyd
  34. Formaldehyd [czech, polish]
  35. Formaldehyde (gas)
  36. Formaldehyde (usp)
  37. Formaldehyde polymer
  38. Formaldehyde solution
  39. Formaldehyde, as formalin solution
  40. Formaldehyde, gas
  41. Formaldehyde, solution
  42. Formaldehyde, solution (37% to 50%)
  43. Formaldehyde, solution, flammable
  44. Formaldehyde, solutions (formalin) (corrosive)
  45. Formalin
  46. Formalin (JP15)
  47. Formalin 40
  48. Formalin-loesungen
  49. Formalin-loesungen [german]
  50. Formalina
  51. Formalina [italian]
  52. Formaline
  53. Formaline [german]
  54. Formalith
  55. Formic aldehyde
  56. Formol
  57. Formyl group
  58. H2CO
  59. HCHO
  60. HOCH
  61. Hercules 37M6-8
  62. Hyperband
  63. Hyperband (TN)
  64. Ivalon
  65. Karsan
  66. Keton
  67. Ketone
  68. Ketones
  69. Lysoform
  70. Melamine-formaldehyde resin
  71. Methaldehyde
  72. Methan 21
  73. Methanal
  74. Methyl aldehyde
  75. Methylene glycol
  76. Methylene oxide
  77. Mitotan
  78. Mitotane
  79. Morbicid
  80. Oilstop, halowax
  81. Oplossingen
  82. Oplossingen [dutch]
  83. Oxomethane
  84. Oxomethylene
  85. Oxymethylene
  86. Paraform
  87. Paraform (van)
  88. Paraformaldehyde
  89. Paraformaldehyde (JP15)
  90. Paraformaldehyde [jan]
  91. Paraformaldehyde, polymer
  92. Paraformaldehydum
  93. Paraformic aldehyde
  94. Poly(oxymethylene)
  95. Polyformaldehyde
  96. Polymerised formaldehyde
  97. Polyoxymethylene
  98. Polyoxymethylene glycol
  99. Polyoxymethylene glycols
  100. Superlysoform
  101. Veracur
  102. formaldehyde (ACD/Name 4.0)
Chemical IUPAC Name formaldehyde
Chemical Formula CH2O
Chemical Structure Structure
CAS Registry Number 50-00-0
InChI Identifier InChI=1S/CH2O/c1-2/h1H2
InChI Key InChIKey=WSFSSNUMVMOOMR-UHFFFAOYSA-N
PubChem Compound ID 712 Link Image
KEGG ID C00067 Link Image
UniProt ID Not Available
OMIM ID Not Available
ChEBI ID 16842 Link Image
BioCyc ID FORMALDEHYDE Link Image
SuperToxic ID Not Available
CTD ID D005557 Link Image
Stitch ID Formaldehyde Link Image
DrugBank ID Not Available
PDB ID Not Available
ACToR ID 647
Wikipedia Link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formaldehyde Link Image
Monoisotopic Mass 30.010565
MOL File Show
PDB File Show
SDF File Show
SMILES C=O
Appearance Not Available
Melting Point -92 °C
Solubility 400 mg/mL at 20 °C [PICKRELL,JA et al. (1983)]
Predicted LogP -0.467
Route of Exposure Oral (S313) ; inhalation (S313) ; dermal (S313)
Mechanism of Action It is likely that formaldehyde toxicity occurs when intracellular levels saturate formaldehyde dehydrogenase activity, allowing the unmetabolized intact molecule to exert its effects. Formaldehyde is known to form cross links between protein and DNA and undergo metabolic incorporation into macromolecules (DNA, RNA, and proteins). (S313)
Metabolism Formaldehyde may be absorbed following inhalation, oral, or dermal exposure. It is an essential metabolic intermediate in all cells and is produced during the normal metabolism of serine, glycine, methionine, and choline and also by the demethylation of N-, S-, and O-methyl compounds. Exogenous formaldehyde is metabolized to formate by the enzyme formaldehyde dehydrogenase at the initial site of contact. After oxidation of formaldehyde to formate, the carbon atom is further oxidized to carbon dioxide or incorporated into purines, thymidine, and amino acids via tetrahydrofolatedependent one-carbon biosynthetic pathways. Formaldehyde is not stored in the body and is excreted in the urine (primarily as formic acid), incorporated into other cellular molecules, or exhaled as carbon dioxide. (S313)
Toxicity Values LD50: 300 mg/kg (Subcutaneous, Mouse) (R261) LD50: 42 mg/kg (Oral, Mouse) (R261) LD50: 87 mg/kg (Intravenous, Rat) (R261) LD50: 16 mg/kg (Intraperitoneal, Mouse) (R327) LC50: 0.414 mg/L over 4 hours (Inhalation, Mouse) (R317)
Lethal Dose Not Available
Carcinogenicity (IARC Classification) 1, carcinogenic to humans. (R264)
Uses/Sources Formaldehyde is used in the production of fertilizer, paper, plywood, and urea-formaldehyde resins. It is also also used as a preservative in some foods and in many products used around the house, such as antiseptics, medicines, and cosmetics. (S313)
Minimum Risk Level Acute Inhalation: 0.04 ppm (R260) Intermediate Inhalation: 0.03 ppm (R260) Chronic Inhalation: 0.008 ppm (R260) Intermediate Oral: 0.3 mg/kg/day (R260) Chronic Oral: 0.2 mg/kg/day (R260)
Health Effects Drinking large amounts of formaldehyde can cause severe pain, vomiting, coma, and possible death. Formaldehyde is also a known human carcinogen. (S313)
Symptoms Low levels of formaldehyde can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin. (S313)
Treatment Not Available
General References
  • R261 - Lewis RJ Sr. (ed) (2004). Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. 11th Edition. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Interscience, Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • R264 - International Agency for Research on Cancer (2009). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans.
  • R327 - Bingham, E, Cohrssen, B, and Powell, CH (2001). Patty's Toxicology Volumes 1-9. 5th ed. New York, N.Y: John Wiley & Sons.
  • R260 - ATSDR - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (2001). Minimal Risk Levels (MRLs) for Hazardous Substances. U.S. Public Health Service in collaboration with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
  • S313 - ATSDR - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (1999). Toxicological profile for formaldehyde. U.S. Public Health Service in collaboration with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
  • R317 - Seifert J, Pewnim T: Alteration of mice L-tryptophan metabolism by the organophosphorous acid triester diazinon. Biochem Pharmacol. 1992 Dec 1;44(11):2243-50. [PubMed Link Image]
Targets
  1. DNA
  2. RNA
Target 1 [top]
Target 1 ID 632
Target 1 Name DNA
Target 1 Mechanism of Action Formaldehyde is known to form cross links between protein and DNA and undergo metabolic incorporation into macromolecules (DNA, RNA, and proteins). (S313)
Target 1 Description Not Available
Target 1 Synonyms Not Available
Target 1 Gene Name Not Available
Target 1 Protein Sequence Not Available
Target 1 Number of Residues Not Available
Target 1 Molecular Weight 0.0
Target 1 Theoretical pI Not Available
Target 1 GO Classification
Function
Not Available
Process
Not Available
Component
Not Available
Target 1 General Function Not Available
Target 1 Pathways Not Available
Target 1 Reactions Not Available
Target 1 Signals Not Available
Target 1 Transmembrane Regions Not Available
Target 1 Essentiality Not Available
Target 1 Domain Function Not Available
Target 1 GenBank ID Protein Not Available
Target 1 UniProtKB ID DNA Link Image
Target 1 Cellular Location Not Available
Target 1 Gene Sequence Not Available
Target 1 GenBank Gene ID Not Available
Target 1 GeneCard ID Not Available
Target 1 GenAtlas ID Not Available
Target 1 HGNC ID Not Available
Target 1 Chromosome Location Not Available
Target 1 Locus Not Available
Target 1 SNPs Not Available
Target 1 Toxin References
  • S313 - ATSDR - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (1999). Toxicological profile for formaldehyde. U.S. Public Health Service in collaboration with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Target 1 General References Not Available
Target 2 [top]
Target 2 ID 645
Target 2 Name RNA
Target 2 Mechanism of Action Formaldehyde is known to form cross links between protein and DNA and undergo metabolic incorporation into macromolecules (DNA, RNA, and proteins). (S313)
Target 2 Description Not Available
Target 2 Synonyms Not Available
Target 2 Gene Name Not Available
Target 2 Protein Sequence Not Available
Target 2 Number of Residues Not Available
Target 2 Molecular Weight 0.0
Target 2 Theoretical pI Not Available
Target 2 GO Classification
Function
Not Available
Process
Not Available
Component
Not Available
Target 2 General Function Not Available
Target 2 Pathways Not Available
Target 2 Reactions Not Available
Target 2 Signals Not Available
Target 2 Transmembrane Regions Not Available
Target 2 Essentiality Not Available
Target 2 Domain Function Not Available
Target 2 GenBank ID Protein Not Available
Target 2 UniProtKB ID RNA Link Image
Target 2 Cellular Location Not Available
Target 2 Gene Sequence Not Available
Target 2 GenBank Gene ID Not Available
Target 2 GeneCard ID Not Available
Target 2 GenAtlas ID Not Available
Target 2 HGNC ID Not Available
Target 2 Chromosome Location Not Available
Target 2 Locus Not Available
Target 2 SNPs Not Available
Target 2 Toxin References
  • S313 - ATSDR - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (1999). Toxicological profile for formaldehyde. U.S. Public Health Service in collaboration with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Target 2 General References Not Available

This project is supported by Genome Alberta & Genome Canada, a not-for-profit organization that is leading Canada's national genomics strategy with $600 million in funding from the federal government.