§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the handling of formaldehyde in hospitals, in view of the evidence that it may be a potential occupational carcinogen.
§ Mr. WaddingtonI have been asked to reply.
Experiments have shown that under certain conditions inhalation of formaldehyde can give rise to a form of nasal cancer in rats and to a lesser extent in mice. Extrapolation of these findings to possible effects in humans is, however, very difficult. Formaldehyde has been in widespread use for over 100 years, but as far as I am aware there has been no evidence in humans of nasal cancer arising from the inhalation of this substance. A number of epidemiological studies of people exposed to formaldehyde, including some medical personnel, are currently being carried out.
The principal uses of formaldehyde in hospitals which are likely to give rise to occupational exposure are for the sterilisation of equipment and laboratories and the preservation of tissue samples and cadavers. No effective substitute for these uses appears to have been found and the continued use of formaldehyde is essential to safeguard medical workers against the risk of infection. Exposure 10 formaldehyde should, in accordance with the well-established policy of the Health and Safety Commission, be kept as low as is reasonably practicable, and in any case below the current ceiling limit of 2 parts per million in air for exposure to airborne formaldehyde.
The Health and Safety Executive has carried out a number of investigations, including atmospheric sampling, at hospitals. Where improvements in the control of exposure have been shown to be necessary, these have been pursued with the health authorities responsible.