In 2011, the United States National Toxicology Program name formaldehyde a known human carcinogen. Due to its many uses and toxicity and volatility it needs to be thought of a danger for human health. With the annual world production of 50 billion pounds (23 million tons) there is cause for great alarm about general safety. So much so, that in 2007, the European Union banned formaldehyde because of its carcinogenic properties as a biocide and health issues it may cause.