Exposure assessment of formaldehyde and its symptoms among anatomy laboratory workers and medical students
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Formaldehyde has commonly been used as an embalming agent in the anatomy laboratory besides being used during production of wood, resins and plastics. This current study involved the measurement of formaldehyde exposure level among anatomy laboratory workers and medical students in anatomy laboratory using the NIOSH 2541 method. The study determined the symptoms resulted from formaldehyde exposure using self-reported symptom questionnaire that has been modified. Mean area concentration of formaldehyde 8 h TWA in the dissection hall and specimen preparation laboratory were 0.1±0.03 and 0.17±0.04 ppm, respectively. Both of these formaldehyde concentrations were below the ceiling limit of 0.30 ppm. Statistically, there was no significant difference between the formaldehyde concentration in the dissection hall and specimen preparation laboratory. The personal exposure 15 min STEL formaldehyde concentration was 2.30±1.53 ppm and it was higher than 15 min STEL of 2 ppm. Results from the anatomy laboratory workers and medical students reported through the self-reported symptom questionnaires revealed that the most common symptoms they experienced during working hour and off working hour where eye and nose irritations, which are 71.3%, 57.5 and 4.6, 8%, respectively. In conclusion, the personal exposure 15 min STEL exceeded the US OSHA standard. Even though the formaldehyde concentration for the area was under the limit, still there were risks to develop an adverse health effect.Keywords:
Embalming
Gross anatomy
Personal Protective Equipment
The formaldehyde concentration in the air and in various tissues of 35 human cadavers were measured during a gross anatomy course held at the Faculty of Medicine of Hiroshima University in the 2003 educational year. Atmospheric formaldehyde levels were 0.25-0.55 ppm and thus less than the upper limit of the guideline for formaldehyde exposure (0.5 ppm) set by the Japan Society for Occupational Health (1988) except for one out of 10 measurements. The formaldehyde concentrations in tissues were as follows: the lung, 0.12 +/- 0.09% (n=29); the liver, 0.12 +/- 0.09% (n=29); and the brachioradialis muscle, 0.11 +/- 0.09% (n=30). Considerable variation was found among the cadavers and these values were lower than those of Tsurumi University which provided the only other data (average formaldehyde concentrations ranged from 0.27 to 0.32%). At Hiroshima University, blood is allowed to drain during embalming, whereas it is not at Tsurumi University. Differences in the embalming procedure are thus responsible for low and fluctuating formaldehyde concentrations in cadavers at Hiroshima University, and it is conceivable that relatively low formaldehyde levels in the air result from low formaldehyde concentrations in cadavers and good room ventilation (10 room-air changes per hour). However, the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare recommended lower formaldehyde exposure levels (0.08 or 0.25 ppm) in 2002. Thus, it may be necessary to further reduce formaldehyde levels in the gross anatomy laboratory by means of such measures as neutralizing formaldehyde with ammonium carbonate; using a locally ventilated dissection work-table, etc.
Embalming
Gross anatomy
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Pathological anatomy
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Background: The medical staff personnel technician and attendants working in anatomy dissection and histology labs, histopathology lab, and mortuary are constantly exposed to formaldehyde during routine duty hours, while embalming the body and processing visceral samples. Exposure to formaldehyde at low concentrations may cause health effects, such as watering and burning of eyes, running nose, throat irritation, coughing, wheezing, and skin allergies.
Objective: We decided to evaluate peak expiratory flow rate and auditory and visual reaction time in 25 technicians and attendants working in anatomy dissection lab, histology lab, histopathology lab, and mortuary and having occupational work exposure to formaldehyde of 3–5 years for work shift of 6–8 h per day.
Materials and Methods: The peak expiratory flow rate was measured using Wright’s peak flow meter and auditory and visual reaction time using response analyzer. The results were compared with age matched non-formaldehyde exposed control subjects. Student’s t-test was carried out to access the statistical significance.
Result: The study revealed decrease peak expiratory flow rate and auditory and visual reaction time in the study group.
Conclusion: Prolonged formaldehyde exposure leads to altered lung functions and neurobehavioral changes. The better control exhaust system in these labs, use of effective ventilation system, and personal protective device such as face mask and rescheduling duty posting of these personnel’s to non-exposed site is recommended for control of health-related hazards of formaldehyde exposure.
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Formaldehyde has commonly been used as an embalming agent in the anatomy laboratory besides being used during production of wood, resins and plastics. This current study involved the measurement of formaldehyde exposure level among anatomy laboratory workers and medical students in anatomy laboratory using the NIOSH 2541 method. The study determined the symptoms resulted from formaldehyde exposure using self-reported symptom questionnaire that has been modified. Mean area concentration of formaldehyde 8 h TWA in the dissection hall and specimen preparation laboratory were 0.1±0.03 and 0.17±0.04 ppm, respectively. Both of these formaldehyde concentrations were below the ceiling limit of 0.30 ppm. Statistically, there was no significant difference between the formaldehyde concentration in the dissection hall and specimen preparation laboratory. The personal exposure 15 min STEL formaldehyde concentration was 2.30±1.53 ppm and it was higher than 15 min STEL of 2 ppm. Results from the anatomy laboratory workers and medical students reported through the self-reported symptom questionnaires revealed that the most common symptoms they experienced during working hour and off working hour where eye and nose irritations, which are 71.3%, 57.5 and 4.6, 8%, respectively. In conclusion, the personal exposure 15 min STEL exceeded the US OSHA standard. Even though the formaldehyde concentration for the area was under the limit, still there were risks to develop an adverse health effect.
Embalming
Gross anatomy
Personal Protective Equipment
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Christian ministry
Gross anatomy
Embalming
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The objective of the present study was to evaluate the exposure to formaldehyde in 2 groups each with 18 students in animal health technology from two different training centers (TC) during a 3-hour weekly laboratory session in biology. Personal sampling during the session was done with passive bubblers for formaldehyde. The analysis of formaldehyde was done by visible absorption spectrometry according to NIOSH method 3500. The students in TC 1 were exposed to formaldehyde levels ranging from less than 0.11 to 0.76 mg/m3 with an average at 0.25 mg/m3 during the 3-hour biology laboratory. The students in TC 2 were exposed to higher concentrations of formaldehyde ranging from 0.26 to 1.2 mg/m3 with an average at 0.632 mg/m3. The results of the survey indicate that the students in both centers were exposed to a notable amount of formaldehyde vapor, at a level that is above the threshold limit value.
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医学教育における系統解剖実習においては, ホルムアルデヒドに高濃度で曝露される可能性がある. 解剖学実習における学生および教職員の安全性評価のために, 系統解剖学実習時に環境中濃度測定と自覚症状についてのアンケート調査を実施し, 解剖学実習の環境改善および防備体制などの充実に繋げる基礎データを蓄積することを目的とした. 濃度評価は作業環境測定に準じ, 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine（DNPH）含浸シリカゲルカラムに気中ホルムアルデヒドを捕集し, アセトニトリルで溶出後, 高速液体クロマトグラフ（HPLC）にて分離・定量を行った. 解剖実習開始前のホルムアルデヒド濃度の平均値は20〜93ppbであったが, 実習開始後は実習の進展に伴い気中濃度は増加し最高時には1012〜1380ppbを示した. 自覚症状調査においては, 「喉が乾燥する」, 「目がチカチカする」, 「目がかゆい」, 「気分が悪い」, 「疲れている」などにおいて, 普段に比べ解剖学実習室内において有意に高い訴えを認めた.
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Formaldehyde has been known for many years as an indoor air pollutant coming from different pieces of furniture and panels in the rooms. A study of the concentrations of formaldehyde in the air of sixty selected structures panelled with urea‐formaldehyde resins was carried out in Spain. Air samples were collected in impingers and analyzed by 3‐Methyl‐2 Benzothiazolone‐hydrazone‐hydrochloride tests (M.B.T.H.) during the year 1984. The average concentration of formaldehyde was 552 μg/m3 with a range of 41–2823 mg/m3. Thirty‐nine homes were found to have concentrations exceeding the average value. These concentrations are higher than allowed indoor exposure standard. Health information was received by direct contact from individuals. Eye irritation, dry or sore throat, mucous membrane irritation, burning eyes, sneeze, runny nose, rash, cough, conjunctivitis, difficult breathing, pharyngytis, bronchitis, headache, weakness, vomiting, nausea, photophobia ... were the most frequent symptoms reported by the occupants. A complementary study was carried out using information on type of structure, age and heating systems of the building. Statistically significant relationship was observed between formaldehyde concentration and health data and between formaldehyde levels and installation age of panels in the structures. Key words: Formaldehydeairurea‐formaldehyde resinsspectrophotometryhealth data Notes Presented at the 16th Symposium on the Analytical Chemistry of Pollutants, Lausanne, Switzerland, March 17–19, 1986.
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Aim: Concentration of formaldehyde (FA) which is used to preserve cadavers for dissection in medical colleges was monitored in indoor air including at the breathing level in dissection classes during a 2-week study in a gross anatomy laboratory and also in the cadaver storage room in a Medical College in India in 2012.
Materials and Methods: Air samples were collected for 30 min and 3 h to commensurate with World Health Organization (WHO) standard (short-term exposure limit) value of FA (30-min) and dissection class of 3 h duration respectively.
Results: FA concentration ranged from 0.11 to 1.07 mg/m3 in the cadaver storage room and 0.06-1.12 mg/m3 in the gross anatomy laboratory. In samples taken at 5 ft height at the breathing level, FA concentration ranged from 0.32 to 0.86 mg/m3.
Conclusions: Most of the observed FA levels were found to be above the prescribed FA guideline values laid down by organizations such as OSHA, ACGIH, WHO, Japan Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare and, therefore, could be considered as harmful for students’ and teachers’ health. FA concentrations reported from a few medical facilities in other countries are comparable, implying that some uniform management and control strategies for FA could be contemplated to reduce risks of FA exposure to students and teachers which are discussed in this paper.
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Indoor air
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Personal exposure and possible cancer risk to formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were appraised in 8 work places at a university in Brazil. Levels of formaldehyde measured ranged from 22.5 to 161.5 μg·m −3 and from 18.3 to 91.2 μg·m −3 for acetalde-hyde. The personal exposure, expressed as the potential dose in indoor air, was calculated to range from 129.8 to 930.4 μg·day −1 (low exposure) and 183.9 to 1318.1 μg·day −1 (medium exposure) for formaldehyde and 105.5 to 525.3 μg·day −1 (low exposure) and 149.5 to 744.2 μg·day −1 (medium exposure) for acetaldehyde. The indoor/outdoor ratio showed the existence of indoor sources of the compounds which were mainly in practical classes and research laboratories. The highest formaldehyde and acetaldehyde levels were found where chemical reagents were manipulated. Relating the levels found to the permissible limit given by the US OSHA showed there was no particular risk although some formaldehyde levels did exceed the lower exposure limit of the US agency NIOSH. Any cancer risk would be highest for female technicians and teaching researchers.
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