In a move that has alarmed public health advocates, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Donald Trump is proposing to significantly weaken protections against formaldehyde, a widely used chemical known to cause cancer. The proposed changes would increase the levels of exposure considered safe, potentially impacting millions of people who encounter the toxin in countless everyday items.
The Science Versus Industry Influence
The core of the controversy lies in how cancer risk is assessed. During President Joe Biden's term, EPA scientists finalised a critical risk assessment in January, concluding that any level of exposure to formaldehyde can cause cancer, with very low levels linked to other health harms. This "linear" model, a long-standing scientific standard, meant regulators would aim to minimise exposure as much as possible.
However, the Trump administration's EPA, now helmed by former chemical industry executives, is seeking to overturn this approach. The new proposal would establish a safety threshold, declaring any exposure below that level to be risk-free. Levels currently deemed a cancer risk would no longer be considered dangerous if the changes are approved.
This shift directly benefits the chemical manufacturing industry, which produces up to 5 billion pounds of formaldehyde annually in the United States. Notably, key figures appointed to run the EPA's chemical safety office were recently leading the industry's charge against the stricter formaldehyde assessments they are now tasked with undoing from within the agency.
Ubiquitous Risk in Daily Life
Formaldehyde is not a niche chemical; it is pervasive in modern consumer goods. Its versatility as a preservative, binder, and antimicrobial agent means it is found in a startling array of products, including:
- Cosmetics and personal care items
- Furniture, cabinets, and composite wood products like particle board
- Clothing and textiles
- Home cleaners and craft supplies
- Plastics, including some kitchenware
- Mattresses and furniture foam
The primary danger comes from inhalation, as the chemical "off-gasses" from these products into the air we breathe. A major flaw in current regulations is the failure to account for cumulative exposure from multiple sources throughout the day.
Consequences of Weakened Safeguards
The Biden EPA identified 58 specific scenarios where formaldehyde presents an "unreasonable risk" to human health, a finding that would trigger mandatory restrictions. The Trump administration's revised assessment reverses the finding of risk in five of those scenarios, all related to industrial workplace exposure, meaning no new protections would be mandated.
For the remaining 53 scenarios—which include risks from consumer products like furniture, wood products, and automotive items—any future regulations will be fundamentally weaker. "Any sort of protections are going to be much weaker than they would have been," said Maria Doa, chemicals policy director at the Environmental Defense Fund.
Public health experts condemn the proposal as a rejection of broad scientific consensus across government and independent research. Jonathan Kalmuss-Katz, an attorney with Earthjustice, emphasised the need for strong action: "When you have chemicals that are this ubiquitous and this toxic, they really call out for strong regulations. You really need the government to do its job and provide protections."
The proposed rollback is part of a wider pattern of efforts to dilute toxic chemical standards under the current administration, placing industry profits ahead of public health safeguards concerning a proven carcinogen linked to respiratory issues, miscarriage, and fertility problems.
