Indoor Formaldehyde Concentration, Personal Formaldehyde Exposure and Clinical Symptoms during Anatomy Dissection Sessions, University of Medicine 1, Yangon

Abstract

The formaldehyde (FA) embalming method, the world’s most common protocol for the fixation of cadavers, has been consistently used in medical universities in Myanmar. This study was designed to examine the indoor FA concentrations in anatomy dissection rooms, an exposed site, and lecture theater, an unexposed control site, and to access personal exposure levels of FA and clinical symptoms of medical students and instructors. In total, 208 second year medical students (1/2019 batch) and 18 instructors from Department of Anatomy, University of Medicine 1, participated. Thirteen dissection sessions were investigated from February 2019 to January 2020. Diffusive sampling devices were used as air samplers and high-performance liquid chromatography was used for measurement of FA. Average indoor FA concentration of four dissection rooms was 0.43 (0.09–1.22) ppm and all dissection rooms showed indoor concentrations above the occupational exposure limits and short-term exposure limit for general population. Personal FA exposure values were higher than indoor FA concentrations and the instructors (0.68, 0.04–2.11 ppm) had higher exposure than the students (0.44, 0.06–1.72 ppm). Unpleasant odor, eye and nose irritations and inability to concentrate were frequently reported FA-related symptoms, and the students were found to have significantly higher risks (p < 0.05) of having these symptoms during the dissection sessions than during lecture.

The Carcinogenic Effects of Formaldehyde Occupational Exposure: A Systematic Review

“…Despite that, very few studies concerned the health sector, or the agri-food industry, where FA is used as a preservative. That is quite surprising, considering that there is much research about the occupational exposure to FA in pathological anatomy settings and sector rooms [ 61 , 62 , 63 ] that stress the needing for adequate preventive measures for workers [ 64 ].…”

Three-Dimensional Virtual Anatomy as a New Approach for Medical Student’s Learning

“…In addition, dissection on cadavers is considered, at first glance, a stressful experience that causes a wide range of symptoms among medical students, such as difficulty breathing, palpitations, and nausea [ 65 , 66 ]. These symptoms are associated with the strong odor caused by chemical substances used in the prevention of tissue decay and with the aim to kill potential pathogens [ 67 ]. All these limitations can be overcome using the virtual table, which can be considered a complementary device to dissection practice.…”

Antiseptic drugs and disinfectants with experience of the second year of COVID-19 pandemic-related side effects

“…Management of adverse drug reactions : Formaldehyde is the most common biocidal substance used in anatomical institutes and pathological laboratories. The indoor air levels during anatomy dissection sessions may exceed occupational exposure limits and short-term exposure limits for the general population with unpleasant odor, eye and nose irritation and inability to concentrate frequently reported as symptoms ( Aung et al, 2021 ) [C]. Similar symptoms were described as adverse effects of formaldehyde in preclinical medical students working in a dissection room ( Tiruneh, 2021 ) [c].…”