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Formaldehyde is a known respiratory and skin sensitiser and carcinogen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) first classified formaldehyde as a Group 1 carcinogen more than two decades ago in 2004 and reaffirmed its classification in 2009.1 2 IARC determined that there was sufficient evidence from human and animal studies that chronic exposure to formaldehyde causes nasopharyngeal cancer and leukaemia. Formaldehyde (in aqueous solution, known as formalin) is used as a disinfectant and preservative in healthcare and other sectors (eg, dairy production).3 Occupational exposures to formaldehyde also occur in the production of plastics, resins, metals and building materials. A recent review of exposure measurements showed how widespread occupational exposure to formaldehyde is.4