Detection and Assessment on the Health Risk of Formaldehyde for Employees in Public Places in Kunshan

Objectives  To assess the exposure of formaldehyde in public places and associated non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for employees in Kunshan.

Methods  The monitoring data on air formaldehyde in public places during 2010 to 2015 was collected from Kunshan CDC. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks for employees working in different types of public places was assessed by the U.S. EPA Integrated Risk Information System (U.S. EPA IRIS).

Results  A total of 2716 air samples from 1249 public places were involved in this study. The average concentration of formaldehyde was 0.57 mg/m³, the non-carcinogenic risk assessment index was high (HQ<1). The carcinogenic effect of formaldehyde at different public places was 4.70×10^-5-1.57×10^-4, which was greater than the acceptable carcinogenic risk value (1×10^-6)from U.S. EPA. The highest carcinogenic risk value was appeared at cosmetics stores, the carcinogenic risk for male was greater than that for female.

Conclusions  There was a big non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risk of formaldehyde pollution in the indoor air of public places on employees in Kunshan city, especially in cosmetics stores, and further research should be given on protecting indoor air environment.