10.22376/ijpbs.2019.10.1.p1-12 Volume 5 Issue 1 2014 (January - March) Formaldehyde is a colourless gaseous material which mixed with water in varying proportions gives formalin. Formalin is used predominantly in histopathological laboratories for fixation of tissues and its one of the most commonly used fixative. However formalin vapours are hazardous and when they exceeding the permissive levels which have been proposed have an effect on various systems of the body. It is classified as a carcinogen and associated with cancers of the nasopharyngeal system by the US EPA and World health organization. Although the dermal exposure is of concern the dominant exposure is from the ambient and indoor air. It is imperative to know the effects of formaldehyde so that the involved personnel can handle with hair and minimize the risk of formalin exposure and thereby reduce the health hazards. This review focuses on the effect of formalin on all the systems of the body and its management. NITHYA MADHUKUMAR AND NITHYA JAGANNATHAN Formalin, hazard, cancer, exposure, fixation 739-743