Health and Safety Resource and Advisory Service from The Health and Safety Service

It is already accepted that formaldehyde poses certain types of cancer risks, but these risks are now deemed to be greater than was previously thought.

At a recent meeting of International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) experts have found evidence exists linking formaldehyde to leukaemia, cancer of the blood or bone marrow.

Although formaldehyde is already in 'Group 1', the top group for cancer, it still doesn't attract the same level of concern as  asbestos and tobacco smoke does.