Worker Health Study Summaries

Research on long-term exposure

Garment Industry Workers (2) (Formaldehyde)

2004

Study Background

NIOSH studied formaldehyde exposure among garment industry workers to determine if exposure to formaldehyde can cause cancer or other diseases.

Study Design: We examined causes of death among 11,039 men and women who had worked in one of three U.S. plants that made shirts from formaldehyde-treated cloth.

Findings: We found an increased risk for leukemia, especially myeloid leukemia, among workers who:

• were first exposed in the earliest years (prior to 1963) when formaldehyde exposures were likely higher; and
• had worked for 10 or more years in one of the three study plants.

Conclusions: Formaldehyde may cause leukemia at higher exposures. However, exposures measured at these three plants since the early 1980’s have been low, thus reducing the risk of disease.

Why did NIOSH Study the Health Risks from Exposure to Formaldehyde?

Formaldehyde is commonly used in the synthetic chemical industry, in funeral homes and medical laboratories.

Formaldehyde has been shown to cause cancer of the nasal cavity (nose) in rats.

Some earlier studies of workers exposed to formaldehyde had found excess risk for various types of cancer. Other studies did not find increased risks. Due to differences in these findings, NIOSH conducted its own studies of formaldehyde exposure in the workplace.

In 1985, NIOSH completed its first research study of formaldehyde. The study examined death certificates among 256 deceased workers from three plants which made shirts from formaldehyde treated cloth. Formaldehyde was used at these plants to help make shirts more crease resistant.

The 1985 study found a significantly increased risk for cancer of the buccal cavity (cancer of the inside of the mouth) and for multiple myeloma (cancer of the bone marrow).

In 1988, NIOSH completed its second study of formaldehyde exposure. This study looked at employment records from 11,030 workers who had been employed at any one of three plants. Two of the three plants were the same as in the previous study.

As in the 1985 study, the 1988 study found a significantly increased risk for cancer of the buccal cavity. Excess risks were also seen for multiple myeloma and leukemia.

What is the Cancer Risk of Formaldehyde Determined by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)?

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is the worldwide agency that determines whether chemicals cause cancer.

In 2004, IARC categorized formaldehyde as a known cancer-causing agent in humans.

Why is the New NIOSH Study on Formaldehyde Important?

The most recent NIOSH study is one of the largest studies ever conducted of formaldehyde-exposed men and women workers.

The NIOSH study evaluated the potential health effects of formaldehyde exposure over a very long period of time. The updated study examined causes of death among workers from as early as 1955 (when formaldehyde-treated cloth was first used in the plants) through 1998.

Who was included in the NIOSH Update Study?

9,024 women and 2,015 men who worked for three months or longer in any one of 3 clothing plants using formaldehyde.

2,650 (24%) of the workers had worked for 10 years or longer at the plants.

These were the same workers NIOSH studied earlier in the 1988 study.

How Did NIOSH Do the Study?

NIOSH examined the causes of death among all the workers in the study. 2,206 (20%) workers had died from 1955 through 1998.

NIOSH collected formaldehyde exposure levels from 549 randomly selected employees who worked in five different departments within the three plants during the early 1980’s. These were the “cutting,” “collar,” “parts, ” “assembly,” and “packaging” departments.

NIOSH reviewed plant records and coded dates of employment, age, gender, and race of the workers.

NIOSH compared the number of deaths from each cause among the workers to the number of expected deaths in the U.S. general population of similar age, gender, and race.

NIOSH also analyzed all causes of death reported for each death, not just the main (underlying) cause. This is important for diseases that may be present at death but are not the main cause.

What Were the Study Results?

The death rates from all causes combined and for all cancers combined among the 11,039 workers in the updated study were lower than expected, based on the U.S. population rates.

There were no deaths from cancers of the nasopharynx (nose). The death rate for cancer of the buccal cavity (inside of the mouth) was only slightly elevated.

The overall risk for myeloid leukemia was almost 1½ times what was expected.

For workers who were employed at the plants for 10 or more years and were first exposed 20 years earlier, the risk for myeloid leukemia was increased over 2 times what was expected.

The increase in myeloid leukemia was also seen among those workers who were first exposed prior to 1963, when formaldehyde exposures were likely higher.

The overall average concentration of formaldehyde measured by NIOSH at the three plants during the early 1980’s was 0.15 parts per million (ppm). This was below the permissible level at that time, which was 3.0 ppm over an 8-hour work day. Exposures were similar across departments and plants. In 1987 the permissible level of formaldehyde exposure was reduced to 1.0 ppm and in 1992 was further reduced to 0.75 ppm.

What Do These Results Mean to You?

These results suggest that persons exposed to higher levels of formaldehyde over a longer period of time may be at an increased risk for myeloid leukemia.

The results described here are for workers as a group. The risk for any individual cannot be predicted. This is especially true since other individual factors may affect your risk.

Symptoms of Leukemia

Symptoms of leukemia may include: not feeling well, being tired, weight loss, night sweats, bone pain, bleeding or bruising easily, frequent infections, fever, and swollen glands.

Having any of these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have a serious illness. Other less serious conditions also have these symptoms.

To be sure, see your doctor to have your health checked, especially if the symptoms do not go away.

Other Health Effects

When formaldehyde is present in the air at levels exceeding 0.1 parts per million, some individuals may experience minor health effects such as watery eyes, burning sensations of the eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, wheezing, nausea, and skin irritation. Some people are sensitive to formaldehyde. But other individuals may have no reaction to the same level of exposure.

Steps to Protect Your Health

Exposure to formaldehyde occurs when the gas is breathed in or when the liquid gets on the skin. Keep your exposure as low as possible. Handle formaldehyde as a hazardous substance.

Questions or Comments?

If you have any questions or comments, would like more information, or would like a copy of the study reports:

Call our NIOSH toll-free number:

800-356-4674 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

Say you are calling about the Formaldehyde Notification regarding Garment Industry Workers.

Email questions, comments, or suggestions to nioshworkernotification@cdc.gov.

For Other NIOSH Publications

NIOSH Publications
4676 Columbia Parkway
Cincinnati, OH
45226-1996

Fax: 513-533 8573

Email: pubstaft@cdc.gov

Web site: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh

References

Pinkerton LE. Hein MJ, Stayner LT. Mortality among a cohort of garment workers exposed to formaldehyde: an update. Occup Environ Med 2004;61(3):193-200.

Stayner LT, Elliott L, Blade L, et al. A retrospective cohort mortality study of workers exposed to formaldehyde in the garment industry. Am J Ind Med 1988;13:667-681.

Stayner L, Smith AB, Reeve G, et al. Proportionate mortality study of workers in the garment industry exposed to formaldehyde. Am J Ind Med 1985;7:229-240.