Why does formaldehyde cause leukemia?

Under normal circumstances, formaldehyde does not directly cause leukemia. Only when formaldehyde contains a large amount of benzene molecules could it potentially trigger leukemia.

Benzene molecules are highly volatile and easily disperse into the air. When people inhale or have skin contact with high levels of benzene, it can enter the bloodstream and may lead to acute or chronic benzene poisoning. Long-term inhalation or exposure can damage the nervous system, causing symptoms such as muscle spasms, and may even result in coma or death. Among many leukemia patients, a significant portion have a history of exposure to benzene or other organic solvents.

In addition to these factors, leukemia may also be triggered by exposure to high-dose radiation or chemotherapy, or prolonged exposure to high levels of environmental radiation. Moreover, genetic factors, or pre-existing conditions such as myelodysplastic syndromes, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, may also increase the risk of developing leukemia.