At a glance
| Chemical family | Simple amide — manufacturing contaminant in EVA foam (formamide = methanamide) |
| CAS number | 75-12-7 |
| Classification | EU CLP Repr. 1B (H360FD — may damage fertility and the unborn child). Not IARC classified. Belgium restricted to 200 mg/kg in EVA mats (2011). France restricted to 200 mg/kg (2013) |
| Where you encounter it | EVA foam play mats (puzzle mats, interlocking floor tiles); EVA foam flip-flops; some EVA-based packaging; forms as a by-product during EVA foam manufacture |
| Sleep micro-environment relevance | Off-gasses from EVA foam play mats placed on children's bedroom floors. Children crawl, sit, and play on these mats at close range. Relevant to children's sleep and play environments |
Regulatory & certification status
| European Union | CLP Repr. 1B (H360FD). No EU-wide restriction on formamide in EVA mats (Belgium and France have national measures). REACH registered substance. Regulatory |
| Belgium | Royal Decree (2011) restricts formamide in EVA foam play mats to 200 mg/kg. The first national measure in the EU. Regulatory |
| France | Decree No. 2013-1261 restricts formamide in EVA foam play mats for children under 36 months to 200 mg/kg. Regulatory |
| International | Not IARC classified. BfR (Germany) risk assessment of formamide in EVA mats published. ANSES (France) risk assessment informed the French restriction. No US restriction. Regulatory |
What it is
Formamide (methanamide, HCONH2) is the simplest amide — the nitrogen analogue of formic acid. It is a high-boiling liquid used industrially as a solvent and in the synthesis of pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and resins. Formamide is not intentionally added to EVA foam — it forms as a by-product during the foaming process, when chemical blowing agents (azodicarbonamide and others) decompose at high temperatures. The EU classifies formamide as Repr. 1B based on developmental toxicity studies showing teratogenic effects in animals. IARC has not evaluated formamide for carcinogenicity. Formamide off-gasses from EVA foam at room temperature because of its relatively high vapour pressure for a high-boiling compound — the slow release from the foam matrix creates a sustained low-level emission.
Where it shows up in bedding
Formamide is not a mattress ingredient. Its bedroom relevance is in children's rooms where EVA foam play mats (interlocking puzzle mats, alphabet mats, exercise mats) are used on the floor. Children crawl, sit, and play on these mats at close range, and in some households the mats are used as a sleeping surface for naps or floor beds. Formamide off-gasses from the mats into the room air, and children's inhalation exposure is higher than adults' because they breathe closer to the mat surface. Belgium and France restricted formamide in EVA mats to 200 mg/kg after risk assessments by their national agencies found that emissions from some imported mats exceeded safe thresholds.
The Embr Exposure Ledger: Formamide
One chemical, several public questions, answered from independent datasets and joined here — the environment it shows up in, the body burden it carries, how it is regulated, and what actually reduces it.
Detection and body-burden figures are occurrence data, not a personal measurement or a health diagnosis. Part of the Embr Exposure Ledger — an open, cross-dataset chemical join (download the data), reusable with attribution.
Citations
- ANSES (2011). Avis relatif aux risques liés à l'utilisation de tapis-puzzle en mousse dans les espaces accueillant des enfants de moins de 36 mois. (Opinion on risks from foam puzzle mats). Source Regulatory
- BfR (2012). Formamide in EVA foam puzzle mats — BfR Opinion No. 014/2012. Source Regulatory
- ECHA. Formamide — Substance Information. Source Regulatory
Frequently asked questions
Are EVA foam play mats safe for children's bedrooms?
It depends on the formamide content. Belgium and France restrict formamide in EVA foam mats to 200 mg/kg. Mats meeting this standard emit substantially less formamide than unrestricted imports. If you use EVA foam mats in a child's bedroom, look for products that comply with the Belgian/French limit or are labelled as formamide-free. Airing new mats outdoors for several days before use can also reduce initial off-gassing.
What is formamide and how does it get into foam mats?
Formamide is the simplest amide compound (HCONH2). It is not deliberately added to EVA foam — it forms as a by-product when chemical blowing agents decompose during the foaming process. The amount present depends on the manufacturing process and materials used. Formamide then slowly off-gasses from the finished foam at room temperature.
Related compounds
Embr is a sleep environment company researching and addressing the chemistry of the bedroom. Research and product development in progress.
Last reviewed 2026-07-08. If you find a factual error, contact us.