The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recent report recognizes formaldehyde as posing unreasonable health risks, yet it downplays its threat in industrial vicinities. Despite previous investigations identifying formaldehyde as a significant cancer risk, the EPA's final assessment adopts weakened worker protection standards compared to its draft, leading to criticism from environmentalists who argue it exposes many workers to harm. The report's reception has been contentious, with industry representatives and political figures challenging its findings, and questioning its impact on economic growth. The EPA's decision not to regulate outdoor formaldehyde levels remains controversial, leaving vulnerable communities without adequate protection.