A typical new home has about 0.08 ppmv of formaldehyde, which is a level known to affect the cerebral cortex. Perhaps the result of breathing this amount of formaldehyde for a few days is "new house euphoria", where people are little too "happy" about living in their new house!

Nose and throat irritation may occur in rooms where new plywood or particleboard is being stored or manufactured.

Hospital autopsy rooms and funeral home preparation rooms, where formaldehyde may be used to preserve body parts, can have 3 to 8 ppmv of formaldehyde, which is enough to require respiratory protection.