Glutaraldehyde + Formaldehyde = Concern

Are you using embalming fluids or products containing glutaraldehyde? If so, you want to read further. The exposure effects of glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde arguably impact the same target organ system i.e. respiratory tract. When a worker has simultaneous exposure to two different chemicals affecting the same target organ system, OSHA considers their effect to be "additive". OSHA has what it calls the "mixture" rule which must be used to determine the required, safe permissible exposure limit (PEL) for the mixture. The OSHA mixture formula is:

C1/L1 + C2/L2 < 1 (C=Exposure Level, L=Exposure Limit)

In effect, the exposures a worker has to both formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde as determined through proper exposure monitoring must be collectively taken into consideration in determining compliance.