Formaldehyde, also called methanal and other names, is a colorless, flammable gas with a strong, sharp odor at room temperature (National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2025).
Formaldehyde (H2CO) acts as a preservative in some foods and various household items like antiseptics, medicines, and cosmetics (Mills, 2008).
American Cancer Society. (2024, September 10). Formaldehyde and cancer risk. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/chemicals/formaldehyde.html
American Chemical Society. (2006, May 29). Molecule of the week archive formaldehyde. https://www.acs.org/molecule-of-the-week/archive/f/formaldehyde.html
De Groot, Anton C., and Margo Veenstra. "Formaldehydeâreleasers in Cosmetics in the USA and in Europe." Contact Dermatitis, vol. 62, no. 4, 30 Mar. 2010, pp. 221-24. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0536.2009.01623.x.
Formaldehyde. (2018, January 1). Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=f39d8ab8-f9c0-31dc-bf21-00b6b7ac4104
Gadwood, R. C. (2025). Formaldehyde. In World book student. World Book. https://www.worldbookonline.com/student-new/#/article/home/ar205060
Mills, Ben. (2008). Ball and stick model of formaldehyde. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formaldehyde#/media/File:Formaldehyde-3D-balls-A.png
National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2025). PubChem compound summary for CID 712, formaldehyde. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Formaldehyde#section=Crystal-Structures
Søgaard, R., Poulsen, P. B., Gelardi, R. M., Geschke, S., Schwensen, J. F. B., & Johansen, J. D. (2024). Hidden formaldehyde in cosmetic products. Contact Dermatitis, 91(6), 497-502. https://doi.org/10.1111/cod.1466
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2024, September 11). Facts about formaldehyde. https://www.epa.gov/formaldehyde/facts-about-formaldehyde
Welsh, J. B., M.D. (2024, October 24). Formaldehyde. In Salem press encyclopedia of health. Salem Press.