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April 25, 2024

According to Decree 280-2024 published on February 28, 2024, in the Gazette officielle du Québec, the amendment to the Appendix 1 of the Regulation respecting occupational health and safety (RSST, RLRQ, c. S-2.1, r. 13) will come into force on March 14, 2024. These regulatory changes have not yet been incorporated into the current Substance Data Sheets of the Sampling Guide for Air Contaminants in the Workplace. An update is currently underway and will be available as soon as possible. Consequently, the information contained in the data sheets of substances modified or added in Decree 280-2024 is partially inaccurate or incomplete. Please consult our infoLABO (in French only) for more details. Please contact our client service: [email protected] for further information.

Formaldehyde

French name in the regulation: Formaldéhyde
CAS : 50-00-0
Synonyms: Formalin; Methaldehyde; Methylene oxide; Oxymethylene; Paraform

Exposure Standards in RROHS regulation

Permissible exposure values (PEV)
ppm mg/m3 f/cc Notes
TWAEV - - - -
STEV - - - -
Ceiling 1,5 1,8* - -
Simple asphyxiant Percutaneous
Minimum exposure Sensitizer R,D
Prohibited use Prohibited recirculation
Carcinogenicity C2

TWA adjustment for unusual work schedules

1A : No adjustment

CNESST – Toxicological Index Service

Consult REPTOX file: Formaldehyde

Analysis:

Formaldéhyde

Recommended method by the IRSST:
Method: MANUEL - ILD

Sampling device:
Parameters:
Flow rate: -
TWA sampling volume: -
STEL sampling volume: -
Remarks: Refer to the user's guide accompanying the instrument.

Principle: Direct reading instrument-Electrochemical cell (DRI-elec)
Remarks: Formaldehyde quantified in the field with a DRI.

Instrument à lecture directe (ILD). Consulter le manuel du manufacturier.

Formaldéhyde

Method: IRSST - 385

Sampling device:
Sampling media required:
#IRSSTDescription
2186 Orbo 23 tube 120/60 mg

Parameters:
Flow rate: 0,1 L/min
TWA sampling volume: 10 L
STEL sampling volume: -
Remarks: Before and after sampling, tubes must be stored in a freezer.

Principle: Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
Precision (%): 12
Minimum reported value: 5 µg
Remarks: Eleven aldehydes are determined simultaneously: acetaldehyde, isobutyraldehyde, isovaleraldehyde, propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde, furfural, heptanal, hexanal, valeraldehyde, acroleine and formaldehyde. This method must not be used for the specific evaluation of formaldehyde; the methods to be used in this case are 357-1 and 400.

Dépistage des aldéhydes dans l'air par GC-MS. Méthode 385. Non publiée.

Formaldéhyde

Method: IRSST - 385

Sampling device:
Sampling media required:
#IRSSTDescription
2188 XAD-2 120/60 mg impregnated with HMP

Parameters:
Flow rate: 0,1 L/min
TWA sampling volume: 10 L
STEL sampling volume: -
Remarks: Before and after sampling, tubes must be stored in a freezer.

Principle: Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
Precision (%): 12
Minimum reported value: 5 µg
Remarks: Eleven aldehydes are determined simultaneously: acetaldehyde, isobutyraldehyde, isovaleraldehyde, propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde, furfural, heptanal, hexanal, valeraldehyde, acroleine and formaldehyde. This method must not be used for the specific evaluation of formaldehyde; the methods to be used in this case are 357-1 and 400.

Dépistage des aldéhydes dans l'air par GC-MS. Méthode 385. Non publiée.

Formaldéhyde

Method: IRSST - 357

Sampling device:
Sampling media required:
#IRSSTDescription
6100 UMEx-100 passive dosimeter

Parameters:
Flow rate: 0,0286 L/min
TWA sampling volume: -
STEL sampling volume: -
Remarks: Keep in freezer before and after sampling. For monitors, flow must be considered as being a sampling rate. According to the data from OSHA 1007 method Formaldehyde (Diffusive Samplers) published in 2005, the precision (CVsampling) of the sampling rate is 8.2%.

Principle: High performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC-UV)
Precision (%): 1,5
Minimum reported value: 0,3 µg
Remarks: Stable for 3 weeks after sampling.

IRSST. "Détermination du formaldéhyde dans l'air par HPLC-UV (dosimétrie UMEx)". Méthode 357. Méthodes analytiques. Montréal: IRSST, 2021.

Formaldéhyde

Method: IRSST - 400

Sampling device:
Sampling media required:
#IRSSTDescription
2196 Impregnated silica gel with DNPH 300/150 mg + KI

Parameters:
Flow rate: 1,0 L/min
TWA sampling volume: 60 L
STEL sampling volume: 15 L
Remarks: Before and after sampling, tubes must be stored in a freezer and away from light.

Principle: High performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC-UV)
Precision (%): 2,9
Minimum reported value: 0,15 µg

IRSST. Analyse du formaldéhyde haute sensibilité dans l'air. Méthode 400. Non Publiée
Following the amendment of Appendix 1 of the Quebec Regulation respecting occupational health and safety (RSST, RLRQ, c. S-2.1, r. 13), part of Quebec Occupational Health and Safety Act, which came into effect on March 26, 2020, the TWAEV, STEL and Ceiling values for certain substances are now expressed in ppm. For these substances, the IRSST performed the conversion calculations to express these TWAEV, TWA and Ceiling values in mg/m3, which thus appears in its Sampling Guide for Air Contaminants in the Workplace (Guide d'échantillonnage des contaminants de l'air en milieu de travail ) and the associated Substance Data Sheets. However, it is imperative to refer to the values expressed in the RSST which are legally binding.