If the risk of FA in gross anatomy laboratories is assessed based on the indoor FA levels, the possibility that personal exposure levels are 2 to 3-fold higher than the mean indoor FA level should be taken into account. Otherwise, the risk should be assessed based on the personal exposure levels. However, it is hard to measure everyone's exposure level. Therefore, further studies are necessary to develop a method of personal exposure assessment from the indoor FA concentration.

No abstract

In the gross anatomy laboratory, which is one of the compulsory subjects in most medical and dental schools, participants cannot avoid exposure to formaldehyde (FA), which is emitted from cadavers during dissection. FA has been recognized as a harmful chemical and we have previously reported that symptoms felt by participants in a gross anatomy laboratory are similar to those of allergic diseases. Although immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated sensitization to FA is a matter of controversy, it is possible that IgE production is evoked during a gross anatomy laboratory and is responsible for the reported symptoms. In order to test this hypothesis, we examined the relationships between the personal FA exposure levels and plasma IgE levels in a gross anatomy laboratory. In the laboratory, the personal FA exposure levels ranged from 0.33 to 1.47 ppm. Total blood IgE levels did not increase significantly and specific IgE to FA was negative during the laboratory sessions. Thus, from this study, we cannot support the hypothesis that the exposure to FA triggers an IgE-mediated reaction in this study. In conclusion, exposure to FA does not induce IgE production during gross anatomy laboratories at our school.

Pollution in the Watarase River caused by mineral wastewater containing high levels of copper discharged during the development of the Ashio CopperMine is one of the most well-known environmental pollution problems in Japan, and has been called the "Starting line of environmental pollution problems in Japan." In this study, we conducted follow-up investigations on the conditions of pollution in the Watarase River since 1991, and measured the heavy-metal levels in water in other rivers near the Watarase River and in soils around them. In addition, we compared the results in this study with previous results, i.e. pollution conditions in the Watarase River, other rivers and soils. Six points in upstream sites of the Watarase were chosen for sampling. Six samples from river water, five samples from soils around the respective points, and three samples from tap water distributed there were collected for the analysis. Heavy metal levels in rivers and soils around the Ashio Copper Mine were significantly lower than the environmental standards for them. When compared with our previous investigations, the levels of polluting heavy metals around the closed refinery at the Ashio Mine were gradually but clearly reduced. In conclusion, the environment around the Watarase River has been steadily improved so that safety in the living environment is assured.

The current findings suggest that the present water filtration plant procedures are not sufficient to remove some hazardous chemicals from the source water. Moreover, it was confirmed that the water filtration produced THMs. Also, trichloroethylene was detected from the water environment in the research area, suggesting that pollution of the water environment continues.