Formaldehyde
Exposure Guidelines

Agency NameAcronymLimit NameLimit
Abbr.
Limit
(ppm)
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration
OSHAPermissible Exposure
Limit
PEL0.75
American Conference
of Government
Industrial Hygienists
ACGIHCeiling Concentration
(2014)
C0.30
World Health OrganizationWHOAir Quality GuidelineAQC0.083
United States Green
Buildings Council
USGBCLeadership in Energy and
Environmental Design
LEED0.027
National Institute for
Occupational Safety
and Health
NIOSHRecommended
Exposure Limit
REL0.016
Federal Emergency
Management Agency
FEMATHU Procurement
Specification
0.016
Agency For Toxic
Substances Disease Registry
ATSDRMinimal Risk LevelMRL0.008
California Office Of
Environmental Health
Hazard Assessment
OEHHAChronic Reference Exposure
Level
cREL0.009
United States Environmental
Protection Agency (Region III)
EPARisk Based
Concentration
RBC0.00018

OSHA PEL, 29CFR1910.1028; http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_ table=STANDARDS&p_id=10075 accessed 3/12/15
ACGIH Ceiling, 2014 TLVs and BEIs Booklet, errata; http://www.acgih.org/TLV/, accessed 3/12/15
World Health Organization Air Quality Guideline – “Concise International Chemical Assessment Document 40”; http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/cicad/ en/cicad40.pdf accessed 1/25/16
USGBC LEED Std.-”LEED 2009 For New Construction… V3” (2009); http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=5546, accessed 3/12/15
NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL), http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0293.html, accessed 3/12/15
FEMA THU Procurement Specification; https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2008/04/11/new-fema-procurement-specifications-require-significantly-reduced, accessed 3/12/15
ATSDR MRLs; http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mrls/mrls_list.html, accessed 3/12/15
CA OEHHA cRELs; http://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/allrels.html, accessed 3/12/15
USEPA Region III RBCs; http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/risk/human/rb-concentration_table/Generic_Tables/docs/resair_sl_table_run_NOV2014.pdf , accessed 3/12/15
IARC Monograph #100, Formaldehyde…(2012); http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol100F/mono100F-29.pdf, accessed 3/12/15

Warranty: EMSL warrants to its clients that all services provided hereunder shall be performed in accordance with established and recognized analytical testing procedures and with reasonable care in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. The foregoing express warranty is exclusive and is given in lieu of all other warranties, expressed or implied. EMSL disclaims any other warranties, express or implied, including a warranty of fitness for particular purpose and warranty of merchantability. Limits of Liability: In no event shall EMSL be liable for indirect, special, consequential, or incidental damages, including, but not limited to, damages for loss of profit or goodwill regardless of the negligence (either sole or concurrent) of EMSL and whether EMSL has been informed of the possibility of such damages, arising out of or in connection with EMSL’s services thereunder or the delivery, use, reliance upon or interpretation of test results by client or any third party. We accept no legal responsibility for the purposes for which the client uses the test results. EMSL will not be held responsible for the improper selection of sampling devices even if we supply the device to the user. The user of the sampling device has the sole responsibility to select the proper sampler and sampling conditions to insure that a valid sample is taken for analysis. Any resampling performed will be at the sole discretion of EMSL, the cost of which shall be limited to the reasonable value of the original sample delivery group (SDG) samples. In no event shall EMSL be liable to a client or any third party, whether based upon theories of tort, contract or any other legal or equitable theory, in excess of the amount paid to EMSL by client thereunder. Indemnification: Client shall indemnify EMSL and its officers, directors and employees and hold each of them harmless for any liability, expense or cost, including reasonable attorney’s fees, incurred by reason of any third party claim in connection with EMSL’s services, the test result data or its use by client.

For More Information on Our Lab Testing Services, Pricing, Sampling Guides, or Products:

Subscribe to Our Monthly Email Newsletter for Industry Professionals.

EMSL's EASY TO USE TEST KITS

Trusted by Inspectors, Property Managers, Building Owners, Real Estate and Environmental Professionals

Our test kits offer simple, easy-to-follow instructions that allow both the do-it-yourself or the field professional an added testing service as part of an inspection or prevention strategy. All kits include pre-paid postage and a variety of turnaround options including same-day!

*Lab Fees Required Upon Return For Testing