Formeldehyde Update, 2006 Decorative & Industrial Laminates Sympoisum

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Formaldehyde is ubiquitous in nature and is a natural constituent of all living systems, from bacteria and fish to rodents and humans. Formaldehyde is present in the human body with concentrations of approximately 1-2 ppm in the blood. Organisms rely on formaldehyde as a one-carbon building block for the synthesis of more complex molecules. Formaldehyde is useful in synthesizing chemicals in living organisms because it is highly reactive. This high reactivity may also lead to chemical reactions to unintended molecules like proteins and DNA. Thus, all living organisms have enzymes that convert excess formaldehyde into formic acid, which is further converted into carbon dioxide.