The National Pollutants Release Inventory: formaldehyde

Background

Every year, a number of facilities across Canada must report the pollutants they release into the air, water, and land, as well as pollutants disposed and transferred, to the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI). The information collected is publicly available, and can help governments set environmental priorities and monitor environmental performance. Canadians can also use this information to learn about pollution in their environment.

This substance overview explores formaldehyde released, disposed of and transferred by various industries in Canada. It also summarizes what facilities do to mitigate their environmental impacts.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a volatile organic compound made of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon. It is a colourless gas used in making building materials and household products. There are a number of industrial uses for formaldehyde including resins, fertilizers, additives in paper production, and drilling fluids for oil extraction. It can be released from sources such as cigarette smoke and unvented fuel-burning appliances. Formaldehyde is also produced naturally in small amounts as part of a cell metabolism in bacteria, plants, fish, animals, and humans. In 2001, Environment Canada and Health Canada completed a risk assessment for formaldehyde and concluded that it could be harmful, even in small amounts, to human health and the environment under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA).

Effects on human health

While natural sources (e.g., forest fires) release greater quantities of formaldehyde than human sources, the highest measured concentrations occur near anthropogenic sources. Thus, these sources are the main concern for human health and the environment.

Formaldehyde is commonly found in the indoor air of homes, resulting from off-gassing (i.e., when construction or household materials release it) or through combustion (i.e., burning materials such as tobacco smoke or fireplaces). Health Canada found that the average levels of formaldehyde concentrations in Canadian homes were below the recommended long-term exposure limit. The risk of serious health effects from concentrations found in most Canadian homes was very low.

Formaldehyde is classified as “carcinogenic to humans” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Exposure to high concentrations of formaldehyde, typically found in certain workplace environments, can lead to cancer in the nasal passageways when workers are regularly exposed over several years. However, provinces have established formaldehyde occupational exposure limits to ensure worker protection. Concentrations at these high levels were not found in Canadian homes in Health Canada studies.

Formaldehyde can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. Long-term exposure to moderate concentrations (i.e., levels lower than those causing irritation) may worsen asthma symptoms and be linked to other respiratory symptoms and sensitivities.

When animals and aquatic life are exposed to formaldehyde, it may make them sick, affect their ability to breed and reduce their life spans. It may also change their behaviour and appearance.

Reporting facilities

In 2020, 141 NPRI facilities reported a release, disposal or transfer of formaldehyde, shown by sector in the map below. Among these facilities, the industrial sectors that had the highest amount of formaldehyde reports were:

For tips on how to use and understand NPRI data, please see our Guide on Using and Interpreting NPRI Data.

Facilities that Reported Formaldehyde by Sector in 2020

Facilities that Reported Formaldehyde by Sector in 2020
Long description

Map showing the location of facilities that reported formaldehyde by sector in 2020.

You can find the data used to create this map using our single year data tables.

Total releases

In 2020, 1,979 tonnes of formaldehyde were released by facilities that reported to the NPRI. This represents approximately a 66% increase from 2011 levels (1,189 tonnes). The number of facilities reporting formaldehyde from 2011 to 2020 has increased from 126 to 141 facilities. The amount being reported has also increased significantly for the wood products (725 to 1,271 tonnes) and the conventional oil and gas extraction (58 to 340 tonnes) sectors. There are various reasons why substance releases may increase over time, such as increased number of reporting facilities, increased production levels or improved technology to calculate emissions over the years.

Total releases of formaldehyde from 2011 to 2020 (tonnes)
Long description
Total releases of formaldehyde from 2011 to 2020 (tonnes)
Report year Total release to all media (<1 tonne)
Total water
Total air Total all releases
2011 3 40 1,146 1,189
2012 4 39 1,125 1,168
2013
2 42 1,287 1,331
2014
4 43 1,325 1,371
2015 6
39 1,454 1,499
2016 5 43 1,556 1,603
2017 6 32 1,571 1,609
2018 5 32 1,880 1,917
2019 3 42 1,918 1,963
2020 4 38 1,937 1,979

*Land releases were only reported in 2013 and 2020 in small amounts (< 0.02 tonnes) and therefore were omitted from the graph.

The sector reporting formaldehyde in the highest quantity to the NPRI in 2020 was wood products (1,271 tonnes). This sector consists of composite wood product manufacturers and sawmills. Composite wood products are known to contain formaldehyde, which is typically emitted by drying and pressing. It can also be released when the wood is introduced to very high temperatures.  See below for the breakdown of total releases of formaldehyde by sector.

Total releases of formaldehyde reported in 2020 by sector (tonnes)
Long description
Total releases of formaldehyde reported in 2020 by sector (tonnes)
Sector Quantity (tonnes)
Water and wastewater systems
0.006
Transportation equipment mfg. 0.01
Oil and gas pipelines and storage
0.02
Other (except manufacturing) 0.1
Mining and quarrying 0.1
Cement, lime and other non-metallic minerals 0.3
Petroleum and coal products refining and mfg. 1
Waste treatment and disposal 1
Electricity 23
Other manufacturing 27
Chemicals 57
Non-conventional oil extraction (including oilsands and heavy oil)
104
Pulp and paper 154
Conventional oil and gas extraction
340
Wood products 1,271

In 2020, air releases represented 98% of total releases of formaldehyde by facilities in Canada, while water releases contributed to the rest (2%). Releases to land were negligible.

A number of provinces and one territory reported releases of formaldehyde in 2020. Ontario is the province with the highest reported releases of formaldehyde with 645 tonnes, which is 33% of the 1,979 releases reported in 2020. This is mainly due to the wood products sector, more specifically, from particle board and fibreboard mills and waferboard mills. These facilities reported 599 of the 645 tonnes for the province of Ontario. Quantities for other provinces are:

Total releases of formaldehyde by province (tonnes)
Long description
Total releases of formaldehyde by province (tonnes)
Province
Quantity (tonnes)
Ontario
645
Alberta
612
Québec 231
British Columbia
230
New Brunswick
174
Saskatchewan
44
Nova Scotia
19
Newfoundland and Labrador
15
Yukon
10
Manitoba
0.4

The main source of formaldehyde releases reported to the NPRI is air releases. In 2020, total releases to air amounting to 1,937 tonnes – a nearly 70% increase since 2011 (1,146 tonnes). This represents 98% of total releases in 2020. The majority of these releases come from the wood products sector (1,270 tonnes). Formaldehyde from wood products plants can be emitted by drying and pressing, as well as from the use of formaldehyde-based resins. 

Air releases of formaldehyde from 2011 to 2020 (tonnes)
Long description
Air releases of formaldehyde from 2010 to 2020 (tonnes)
Report year Releases to air
2011 1,146
2012 1,125
2013
1,287
2014
1,325
2015 1,454
2016 1,556
2017 1,571
2018 1,880
2019 1,918
2020 1,937

In 2020, 38 tonnes of formaldehyde was released to water, primarily from the pulp and paper sector. Throughout the years, water releases of formaldehyde reported to the NPRI has been relatively consistent, ranging from 32 to 43 tonnes in the past ten years. These releases almost entirely come from the pulp and paper sector due to waste from the facilities’ processes and machinery.

The graph below indicates releases to water over a ten year span.

Water releases of formaldehyde from 2011 to 2020 (tonnes)
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Water releases of formaldehyde from 2010 to 2020 (tonnes)
Report year Releases to water
2011 40
2012 39
2013
42
2014
43
2015 39
2016 43
2017 32
2018 32
2019 42
2020 38

Disposals

Disposals typically vary from year to year. There are a number of factors contributing to the increase or decrease of total formaldehyde disposals, for example:

In 2020, the most common disposal method of formaldehyde was to a landfill, which made up around 79% of the total disposals. Other types of disposal methods for formaldehyde include underground injection and land treatment:

Total disposals of formaldehyde from 2011 to 2020 (tonnes)
Long description
Total disposals of formaldehyde from 2010 to 2020 (tonnes)
Report year Total disposals
2011 188
2012 165
2013
69
2014
41
2015 48
2016 47
2017 47
2018 30
2019 121
2020 80

Transfers for treatment and recycling

In 2020, 73 tonnes of formaldehyde were transferred off-site for treatment or recycling by facilities that reported to the NPRI. This represents a 30% decrease from 2011 levels (104 tonnes). Reasons of variations in transfer of formaldehyde may include:

The majority of formaldehyde was transferred off-site for treatment and came from the waste treatment and disposal sector.

Total transfers of formaldehyde from 2011 to 2020 (tonnes)
Long description
Total transfers of formaldehyde from 2010 to 2020 (tonnes)
Report year Total transfers
2011 104
2012 93
2013
99
2014
105
2015 89
2016 63
2017 59
2018 80
2019 52
2020 73

Government measures

The Government of Canada has developed tools to manage risks associated with formaldehyde, including:

Visit the Toxic Substances List: Formaldehyde page and the Formaldehyde page for more information on risk assessment and risk management tools.

Pollution prevention activities

Facilities can do a number of things to prevent pollution and waste at the source. Examples of pollution prevention activities that facilities have used to target formaldehyde include:

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Health Canada and Wood Preservation Canada have created a document outlining best practices that can be used for emissions from wood preservation facilities. Recommendations for the Design and Operation of Wood Preservation Facilities (Technical Recommendations Document) outlines a number of pollution prevention activities and seeks to:

Learn more about pollution prevention and how facilities and individuals can help protect their environment.

Pollution in your neighbourhood

You can identify the facilities and pollutants in your community by entering your postal code in the NPRI online data search.

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