Formaldehyde is a vital ingredient in many chemical and manufacturing processes. Unfortunately, like many useful materials, this colorless, flammable gas also presents a serious exposure hazard to people in industrial workplaces and, potentially, homes, buildings and other areas.
Formaldehyde has many uses and is widely found in chemical plants that produce resins used as a binder in the manufacturing of wood products such as plywood and particleboard. The strong-smelling material is also used in manufacturing paper products, leather goods and pharmaceuticals, and is used as a tissue preservative in certain medical facilities.