Investigation of Formaldehyde in Gross Anatomy Laboratory: Area-Based and Exposure Levels, Ventilation, Health Risk and Clinical Symptoms
Formaldehyde is commonly used in embalming solution in medical fields to preserve tissues. Formaldehyde vapor released from cadavers during dissection practice can adversely affect students and instructors in gross anatomy laboratories. Therefore, this study investigated formaldehyde concentrations...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Environmental Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University
2017-11-01
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| Series: | Applied Environmental Research |
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| Online Access: | https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/aer/article/view/94955 |
| _version_ | 1797310836028473344 |
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| author | Kritsana Homwutthiwong Maneerat Ongwandee |
| author_facet | Kritsana Homwutthiwong Maneerat Ongwandee |
| author_sort | Kritsana Homwutthiwong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Formaldehyde is commonly used in embalming solution in medical fields to preserve tissues. Formaldehyde vapor released from cadavers during dissection practice can adversely affect students and instructors in gross anatomy laboratories. Therefore, this study investigated formaldehyde concentrations in a gross anatomy laboratory of Mahasarakham University, Thailand. Area-based sampling was conducted for three scenarios: (1) a laboratory cleaning period, (2) three periods of teaching classes and (3) a non-teaching class period. Personal samples were also collected for five consecutive working days from two anatomy lab instructors and a non-lab instructor. Measurements were conducted during May to October 2016 using cartridges filled with dinitrophenylhydrazine coated silica gel. Samples were desorbed and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Results showed that the average area-based concentrations during the dissection classes ranged from 9.3 to 17.6 ppb, while the non-teaching class concentration was 5.5 ppb. The concentration increased to 3.1×103 ppb during the laboratory cleaning. The five-day average exposure concentrations were 7.6 ppb and 4.7 ppb for the two lab instructors and 1.1 ppb for the non-lab instructor. The lifetime cancer risk estimates were 5.8×10-6, 2.9×10-6 and 8.1×10-7, respectively. The three most reported clinical symptoms by the gross anatomy students were associated with formaldehyde concentrations above 16 ppb at the significance level of 0.05. These included unpleasant odor, general fatigue or fatigue after awakening and dizziness with response rates of 57.5 %, 38.5 % and 33.1 %, respectively. Improvement of the ventilation and source control measures are essential for reducing formaldehyde emissions in the gross anatomy laboratory.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T01:48:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-32fc4411a2fd4607bf42050153215c7c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2287-075X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T01:48:47Z |
| publishDate | 2017-11-01 |
| publisher | Environmental Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Environmental Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-32fc4411a2fd4607bf42050153215c7c2024-02-14T10:50:34ZengEnvironmental Research Institute, Chulalongkorn UniversityApplied Environmental Research2287-075X2017-11-01393Investigation of Formaldehyde in Gross Anatomy Laboratory: Area-Based and Exposure Levels, Ventilation, Health Risk and Clinical SymptomsKritsana Homwutthiwong0Maneerat Ongwandee1Faculty of Medicine, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham, ThailandFaculty of Engineering, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham, Thailand Formaldehyde is commonly used in embalming solution in medical fields to preserve tissues. Formaldehyde vapor released from cadavers during dissection practice can adversely affect students and instructors in gross anatomy laboratories. Therefore, this study investigated formaldehyde concentrations in a gross anatomy laboratory of Mahasarakham University, Thailand. Area-based sampling was conducted for three scenarios: (1) a laboratory cleaning period, (2) three periods of teaching classes and (3) a non-teaching class period. Personal samples were also collected for five consecutive working days from two anatomy lab instructors and a non-lab instructor. Measurements were conducted during May to October 2016 using cartridges filled with dinitrophenylhydrazine coated silica gel. Samples were desorbed and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Results showed that the average area-based concentrations during the dissection classes ranged from 9.3 to 17.6 ppb, while the non-teaching class concentration was 5.5 ppb. The concentration increased to 3.1×103 ppb during the laboratory cleaning. The five-day average exposure concentrations were 7.6 ppb and 4.7 ppb for the two lab instructors and 1.1 ppb for the non-lab instructor. The lifetime cancer risk estimates were 5.8×10-6, 2.9×10-6 and 8.1×10-7, respectively. The three most reported clinical symptoms by the gross anatomy students were associated with formaldehyde concentrations above 16 ppb at the significance level of 0.05. These included unpleasant odor, general fatigue or fatigue after awakening and dizziness with response rates of 57.5 %, 38.5 % and 33.1 %, respectively. Improvement of the ventilation and source control measures are essential for reducing formaldehyde emissions in the gross anatomy laboratory. https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/aer/article/view/94955Indoor air qualityFormaldehyde-related symptomsDissectionVentilation |
| spellingShingle | Kritsana Homwutthiwong Maneerat Ongwandee Investigation of Formaldehyde in Gross Anatomy Laboratory: Area-Based and Exposure Levels, Ventilation, Health Risk and Clinical Symptoms Applied Environmental Research Indoor air quality Formaldehyde-related symptoms Dissection Ventilation |
| title | Investigation of Formaldehyde in Gross Anatomy Laboratory: Area-Based and Exposure Levels, Ventilation, Health Risk and Clinical Symptoms |
| title_full | Investigation of Formaldehyde in Gross Anatomy Laboratory: Area-Based and Exposure Levels, Ventilation, Health Risk and Clinical Symptoms |
| title_fullStr | Investigation of Formaldehyde in Gross Anatomy Laboratory: Area-Based and Exposure Levels, Ventilation, Health Risk and Clinical Symptoms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation of Formaldehyde in Gross Anatomy Laboratory: Area-Based and Exposure Levels, Ventilation, Health Risk and Clinical Symptoms |
| title_short | Investigation of Formaldehyde in Gross Anatomy Laboratory: Area-Based and Exposure Levels, Ventilation, Health Risk and Clinical Symptoms |
| title_sort | investigation of formaldehyde in gross anatomy laboratory area based and exposure levels ventilation health risk and clinical symptoms |
| topic | Indoor air quality Formaldehyde-related symptoms Dissection Ventilation |
| url | https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/aer/article/view/94955 |
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