Formaldehyde
The toxicokinetics in all of the animals studied is similar
across species lines. Formaldehyde is an essential metabolic intermediate in all cells. It is produced
during the normal metabolism of serine, glycine, methionine, and choline and also by the
demethylation of N-, S-, and O-methyl compounds. After oxidation of formaldehyde to formate, the
carbon atom is further oxidized to carbon dioxide (CO2) or incorporated into purines, thymidine,
and amino acids via tetrahydrofolatedependent one-carbon biosynthetic pathways. Exogenous
formaldehyde appears to be readily absorbed from the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, but
poorly absorbed following dermal application. Formaldehyde is metabolized to formate by the
enzyme formaldehyde dehydrogenase; this appears to take place at the initial site of contact. Being
normal components of intermediary metabolism, neither formaldehyde nor formate are stored to any
significant extent in any tissue of the body
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