Conaway C C, Whysner J, Verna L K, Williams G M
Toxicology and Risk Assessment Program, American Health Foundation, Valhalla, NY 10595-1599, USA.
Pharmacol Ther. 1996;71(1-2):29-55. doi: 10.1016/0163-7258(96)00061-7.
Exposures of rodents to airborne formaldehyde (FA) produce dose-related toxicity, enhanced cell proliferation and squamous cell carcinomas in the nasal passages. The mechanism of FA-induced tumor formation involves DNA-protein crosslink formation and enhanced cell proliferation secondarily to cytotoxicity. The mucociliary apparatus and glutathione protect against low-dose FA-induced effects. Consequently, the mechanistic information is consistent with a very sublinear dose-response curve for tumor formation. The sublinear dose-response of nasal DNA-protein crosslinks levels in rodents and monkeys has been used in the risk assessment of FA.
