Formaldehyde is an irritant to the respiratory tract. Chronic occupational exposure has been associated with sinonasal (nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses) carcinomas.
Types of tumors associated with formaldehyde exposure:
(1) adenocarcinoma
(2) squamous cell carcinoma
Risk factors:
(1) extent of formaldehyde exposure
(2) concurrent exposures to other cause of sinonasal carcinoma (wood dust, textile dust, asbestos)
Use of a respirator to limit exposures should reduce the risk.
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