Sperm head abnormalities and dominant lethal effects of formaldehyde in albino rats

The effects of formaldehyde exposure have been investigated in rats by two short-term in vivo mutagenicity tests (sperm head abnormality and dominant lethal mutation assays). Five daily interperitonial injections of formaldehyde resulted in a statistically significant increase in induction of sperm head abnormalities at 0.125 to 0.500 mg/kg. The frequency of dominant lethal mutations in female rats sired by males exposed to formaldehyde was significantly higher than the control group. There was also a reduction of fertile matings in females mated 1-7 days after treatment of males with formaldehyde. The genetic and environmental health implications of the results are discussed.