09/17/2003

Glutaraldehyde and Formaldehyde

By Jody Christy, Safex Inc.

Glutaraldehyde and Formaldehyde
A Glance at the Health & Safety Aspects
By Jody Christy, Safex Inc.

Glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde are widely used in embalming. Each has its own unique benefits in the embalming process. It is up to each funeral home and embalmer to determine which aldehyde is the best at serving their needs. As with the selection of any chemical there are several things that must be considered, such as performance, cost, disposal, and health and safety. This article is going to review the health and safety aspects of glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde. The most significant difference between formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde is that OSHA has established a regulatory standard for formaldehyde with very specific requirements.

Health Effects
There are a few notable differences between glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde. The most notable difference between glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde is that formaldehyde is a suspected human carcinogen, according to the ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists) and can cause irreversible eye damage.

Short Term (acute) Effects*
Glutaraldehyde
* Liquid and vapor can severely irritate the eyes and at high concentrations, can burn the skin.
* Inhalation can cause irritation to nose, throat and respiratory tract which can cause wheezing and coughing.
Formaldehyde
* Liquid and vapors can irritate eyes and splashes can cause irreversible damage.
* Inhalation can cause coughing, shortness of breath, sore throat and irritation and sensitization of the respiratory tract.
Long Term (chronic) Effects*
Glutaraldehyde
* May cause skin allergies
* A known skin sensitizer
Formaldehyde
* May cause hypersensitivity leading to contact dermatitis
* May cause vision impairment and liver enlargement
* Is a suspected carcinogen
* A known skin sensitizer


* Information obtained from MSDS's and Health and Safety Fact Sheets on Formaldehyde and Glutaraldehyde