[Nhcoll-l] Formaldehyde and IATA

Lars Erik Johannessen l.e.johannessen at nhm.uio.no
Thu Jun 6 14:52:28 EDT 2013


Hi,

I believe a clarification might be in place regarding
concentrations of formalin/formaldehyde:

100% formalin is a saturated water solution that contains 37% 
formaldehyde by mass. This is also referred to as "37% formaldehyde".

As the entry in the IATA DGR refers to "formaldehyde solutions" (i.e. 
NOT formalin), the following classification of formaldehyde 
solutions/formalin should apply:

<10% formaldehyde = ca. 27% formalin:
Not subject to the IATA DGR regulations

10-25% formaldehyde = ca. 27-68% formalin:
Classified as UN 3334

 >=25% formaldehyde = >= ca. 68-100% formalin:
Classified as UN 2209

Regards,
Lars Erik


On 06.06.2013 16:43, Bentley, Andrew Charles wrote:
> Hi all
>
> It was recently brought to my attention by Dirk Neumann that the entry
> for formaldehyde in the dangerous goods table of the latest IATA manual
> (version 54) has been amended to exclude the phrase “Formaldehyde
> solution with >10% but <25% formaldehyde” as in the below screenshot
> from the old manual:
>
> cid:image001.png at 01CE5B89.F8A0AD90
>
> This obviously affects our ability to ship dilute formalin solutions
> with specimens – what we call 10% which is actually 3.7%.
>
> I emailed my contact at IATA and he informed me that it was removed
> after some discussion at the last Dangerous Goods meeting but in its
> place a special provision SP A 189 was added which states:
>
> -----------------------------------------
>
> *A189 *Except where the defining criteria of another class or division
> are met, concentrations of formaldehyde solution:
>
> (a) with 10% or more, but less than 25% formaldehyde must be classified
> as UN 3334 Aviation regulated liquid, n.o.s.; and
>
> (b) with less than 10% formaldehyde are not subject to these Regulations.
>
> ----------------------------------------------
>
> So, it appears as if status quo has been maintained, just in another
> way.  Solutions of 3.7% formalin are still exempt from the dangerous
> goods regulations and can be transported internationally by courier as
> before.  By definition, as it is outside the scope of the dangerous
> goods regulations and is not classified as an aviation regulated liquid,
> it can also be carried onto a plane as checked and carry on (subject to
> TSA regulations) baggage.
>
> Hope that helps
>
> Andy
>
>      A  :             A  :             A  :
>   }<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<)))_°>
>      V                V                V
>   Andy Bentley
>   Ichthyology Collection Manager
>   University of Kansas
> Biodiversity Institute
>
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-- 
Regards,
Lars Erik

-----------------------------------------

Dr. Lars Erik Johannessen
Head engineer
DNA Bank


Natural History Museum
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