Formalin is a human health risk

[Miami Reef]

How would you dispose of it if you have a sealed bottle of 37% solution?

 

[Tamberav]

I never have used it and don't want to. I guess I will always try alternatives and I don't buy chromis due to uronema concerns.

Doesn't ruby reef rally have formalin in it? people put that directly in their reef tank. I understand it is a small amount but my guess is no amount is a safe level. My understanding is it breaks down quickly though.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

How would you dispose of it if you have a sealed bottle of 37% solution?

Likely a town hazardous waste collection day is best.

 

[Vested]

Identifying an indoor air exposure limit for formaldehyde considering both irritation and cancer hazards - PMC

Formaldehyde is a well-studied chemical and effects from inhalation exposures have been extensively characterized in numerous controlled studies with human volunteers, including asthmatics and other sensitive individuals, which provide a rich ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

This will be controversial and I can’t find a conclusive answer on this topic glad you are bringing it up. I use formalin for fish qt and have looked into it a few times. From what I found it seems the risk is way overblown for how we use it. I still think proper ppe should be used and have a problem with products not properly warning they contain formaldehyde and at what level.

Formaldehyde odor threshold is 0.5 to 1.0 ppm; OSHA PEL is 0.75 ppm, **formalin** that we use for fish is 37% formaldehyde... And even that is diluted to 1ml per gallon max in a dip for 45 minutes. I haven’t ever been able to get my air sensor to even pick up on it right above a dip container at full strength.

 

[Nate Chalk]

@F i s h y

 

[Reefer1978]

Sorry, no. I’m not a fish disease expert.

Thank you Randy, I had that thought right after I asked.

@Jay Hemdal would you have any advice given the topic?

 

[Miami Reef]

Likely a town hazardous waste collection day is best.

Thanks! Do you think formalin can also cause harm to the fish that’s being treated?

 

[KrisReef]

@Randy Holmes-Farley how would you safely perform a formalin bath in a house environment?

My understanding is that Randy doesn't bathe at home, ever!.

 

[KrisReef]

How would you dispose of it if you have a sealed bottle of 37% solution?

I would find someone in the fish industry who routinely uses it and give it to them. I have access to many chemicals at work but i don't use most of them for reefing.

 

[fish farmer]

Identifying an indoor air exposure limit for formaldehyde considering both irritation and cancer hazards - PMC

Formaldehyde is a well-studied chemical and effects from inhalation exposures have been extensively characterized in numerous controlled studies with human volunteers, including asthmatics and other sensitive individuals, which provide a rich ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

This will be controversial and I can’t find a conclusive answer on this topic glad you are bringing it up. I use formalin for fish qt and have looked into it a few times. From what I found it seems the risk is way overblown for how we use it. I still think proper ppe should be used and have a problem with products not properly warning they contain formaldehyde and at what level.

Formaldehyde odor threshold is 0.5 to 1.0 ppm; OSHA PEL is 0.75 ppm, **formalin** that we use for fish is 37% formaldehyde... And even that is diluted to 1ml per gallon max in a dip for 45 minutes. I haven’t ever been able to get my air sensor to even pick up on it right above a dip container at full strength.

FWIW I wore a formalin toxicity badge at my workplace while administering a solution of formalin to trout egg incubators and didn't get a bad reading. Typical treatment is 500 ml formalin per gallon of water dispensed for 15 minutes, times 8 (the amount of incubators). We do have vent fan in the room.

I wouldn't use it enclosed in a small area without ventilation and PPE.

Here's the label from what I use.

 

[Vested]

FWIW I wore a formalin toxicity badge at my workplace while administering a solution of formalin to trout egg incubators and didn't get a bad reading. Typical treatment is 500 ml formalin per gallon of water dispensed for 15 minutes, times 8 (the amount of incubators). We do have vent fan in the room.

I wouldn't use it enclosed in a small area without ventilation and PPE.

Totally agree

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

My understanding from the article is that companies who want to use it have pressured the government regulators to make rules easier. Hence meeting an osha specification may not be sufficient.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Federal regulators have known for more than four decades that formaldehyde is toxic, but their attempts to limit the chemical have been repeatedly thwarted by the many companies that rely on it.

 

[Msz3389]

It is hard to get for a reason and they placed a ban on any product that contains formaldehyde in the UAE. I wish they stop big companies from using it in their product.

Stay safe reefers

 

[LPS Bum]

Yikes. I’d better stop taking my evening baths in safety stop!

In all seriousness, I only use that product a couple of times a year, but this is definitely a bit disconcerting.

 

[LPS Bum]

what are some mainstream/popular reefing products that use formaldehyde?

Safety Stop. It’s part A of their two part bath. You add each part to 1 gal of tank water. I use it from time to time.

 

[DaJMasta]

Thanks! Do you think formalin can also cause harm to the fish that’s being treated?

It can kill them, that's why concentration and treatment length are carefully controlled. Formalin in normal concentration is a standard biological specimen preserving medium precisely because it ends and prevents biological processes. That's also exactly why it can be an effective treatment.

I remember on one of the BRS video interviews with Elliot of Marine Collectors, he specifically mentioned that he did not let employees do the formalin dosing and instead did it himself, in PPE, after they had gone home for the day and that he avoided using it in as many treatments as possible specifically because of its risk to people.

As with most carcinogens, low levels of exposure are statistically not likely to cause much cancer, but with the amount people flip out about suspected carinogens in food, air, water, normal household goods, etc. - it is surprising that there aren't more warning labels or recommendations for the use of PPE/properly ventilated environments.

 

[Msz3389]

FWIW I wore a formalin toxicity badge at my workplace while administering a solution of formalin to trout egg incubators and didn't get a bad reading. Typical treatment is 500 ml formalin per gallon of water dispensed for 15 minutes, times 8 (the amount of incubators). We do have vent fan in the room.

I wouldn't use it enclosed in a small area without ventilation and PPE.

Here's the label from what I use.

Badges rarely work. I work in an oil rig and we deal with hydrogen sulfate all the time and guess what the badge doesn't ring even held close to the source

 

[Sean Clark]

Federal regulators have known for more than four decades that formaldehyde is toxic, but their attempts to limit the chemical have been repeatedly thwarted by the many companies that rely on it.

Sometimes the stuff that just works comes with an asterix. Deet for mosques fore example. I want the Off deep woods 20% deet for me personally.
A few years ago Lumber Liquidators came under scrutiny for formaldehyde content in their Chinese flooring when other "safer" options existed to perform the same task (presumably at a higher cost). Something you wouldn't normally think about when selecting flooring. When you choose to use a chemical, the weight is shifted to the consumer.

 

[Rollnwthdatide]

Doesn’t it also have special disposal requirements that a lot of home hobbyists are likely ignoring?

Most test kits do as well technically.