Comparison of Personal Formaldehyde Levels in Anatomy Laboratories of 5 Physical Therapist Education Programs

Cope, Janet M.; Sanders, E. M.; Holt, Stewart M.; Pappas, Kathy; Thomas, Jackson K.; Kernick, Edward T.; Starr, Kathy; Corriher, Laura; Templeton, Davis

doi:10.1097/00001416-201107000-00006

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 35 publications

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“…Slightly higher values were seen after re-perfusion with InfuTrace™. Goldman ( 2010 ) achieved “dramatic” and Cope et al ( 2009 ) significant reductions of formaldehyde concentrations in the air after re-perfusion with InfuTrace™, but according to Goldman, the growth of mold increased. Up to now, solid proof for the effectiveness of InfuTrace™ for achieving German working place standards with a very low PEL was lacking.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low cost and effective reduction of formaldehyde in gross anatomy: long throw nozzles and formaldehyde destruction using InfuTrace™

Pfeil

Hieke

Brohmann³

et al. 2020

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Formaldehyde is extraordinarily effective for fixation of human corpses and is routinely used in embalming solutions in anatomical dissection courses all over the world. High concentrations in vapors emitted from corpses embalmed with formaldehyde make it necessary to reduce the emission from cadavers for fulfilling tightening permissible exposure limits (PEL) worldwide. The study provides possible solutions to a problem faced by many anatomy labs. The emission of 50 human corpses was examined using 240 active personal and stationary samples with sampling tubes placed in the breathing area of probands or directly above the corpses. For measuring formaldehyde exposures along the dissection course, air samples were collected during the progress of dissection. Best results were achieved by a combination of post-embalming treatment with InfuTrace™, a formaldehyde binding solution applied to corpses fixed with 3% formaldehyde, and a modified ventilation system consisting of three long throw nozzles mounted vertically at the ceiling above the longitudinal axis of each dissection table. In this scenario, the inhalative exposure for students and teachers did not exceed 0.1 ppm during muscle dissection and 0.041 ppm during organ dissection, which are both dissection steps linked to high emission rates. The data emphasizes the necessity to use a combination of different methodschemical polymerization of formaldehyde combined with a modified ventilation systemto reduce formaldehyde air loads far below the German PEL (0.3 ppm) and even the Japanese PEL (0.1 ppm) when using a standard 3%-formaldehyde fixation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low cost and effective reduction of formaldehyde in gross anatomy: long throw nozzles and formaldehyde destruction using InfuTrace™

Pfeil

Hieke

Brohmann³

et al. 2020

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Occupational exposure to formaldehyde, lifetime cancer probability, and hazard quotient in pathology lab employees in Iran: a quantitative risk assessment

Jalali

Moghadam

Baziar

et al. 2020

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Formaldehyde is a colorless and highly irritating substance that is used as a preservative and chemical fixative in tissue processing in pathological laboratories. Formaldehyde is mutagenic and is classified by the IARC as the definitive carcinogen (A1 group). This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was performed to determine the respiratory exposure of 60 employees of pathology labs with formaldehyde and to estimate carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk in Iran in 2018-2019. Occupational exposure to formaldehyde was assessed in summer season using the NIOSH 3500 method and a personal sampler with flow of 1 l/min connected to two Glass Midget Impingers containing 20 ml of 1% sodium bisulfate solution. The respiratory symptoms questionnaire provided by the American Thoracic Society was used to assess the health effects of formaldehyde exposure. The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk assessment of inhaled exposure to formaldehyde was also performed using the USA Environmental Protection Agency (OEHHA) method. The mean respiratory exposure of employees to formaldehyde was 0.64 mg/m 3 (range: 0.1474 to 1.3757). Occupational exposure in 28.3% (n = 17) of employees was above the OSHA recommended range. Wheezing (24%), burning eyes (25%), and cough (21.7%) were the most prevalent health problems. The mean ± SD of the carcinogenic risk among the employees was 3.45 × 10 −4 ± 2.27 × 10 −4 . The highest mean of carcinogenic risk was found in lab workers (4.44 × 10 −4 ). Given the high level of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk of respiratory exposure to formaldehyde in pathological employees, especially lab worker, the use of management controls, engineering controls, and respiratory protection equipment to reduce exposure levels of all workers to less than the allowed exposure limits seems necessary.

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Every PT and PTA Is an Educator

Gwyer

Hack

2014

Journal of Physical Therapy Education

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Comparison of Personal Formaldehyde Levels in Anatomy Laboratories of 5 Physical Therapist Education Programs

Cited by 5 publications

References 35 publications

Low cost and effective reduction of formaldehyde in gross anatomy: long throw nozzles and formaldehyde destruction using InfuTrace™

Low cost and effective reduction of formaldehyde in gross anatomy: long throw nozzles and formaldehyde destruction using InfuTrace™

Occupational exposure to formaldehyde, lifetime cancer probability, and hazard quotient in pathology lab employees in Iran: a quantitative risk assessment

Every PT and PTA Is an Educator

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