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

Win-Yu Aung, Hironari Sakamoto, Ayana Sato, Ei-Ei-Pan-Nu Yi, Zaw-Lin Thein, Myint-San Nwe, Nanda Shein, Htin Linn, Shigehisa Uchiyama, Naoki Kunugita, Tin-Tin Win-Shwe and Ohn Mar
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Win-Yu Aung: Department of Physiology, University of Medicine 1, Yangon 11014, Myanmar
Hironari Sakamoto: Faculty and Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
Ayana Sato: Faculty and Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
Ei-Ei-Pan-Nu Yi: Department of Physiology, University of Medicine 1, Yangon 11014, Myanmar
Zaw-Lin Thein: Department of Physiology, University of Medicine 1, Yangon 11014, Myanmar
Myint-San Nwe: Department of Anatomy, University of Medicine 1, Yangon 11014, Myanmar
Nanda Shein: Department of Anatomy, University of Medicine 1, Yangon 11014, Myanmar
Htin Linn: Department of Anatomy, University of Medicine 1, Yangon 11014, Myanmar
Shigehisa Uchiyama: Faculty and Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
Naoki Kunugita: School of Health Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan
Tin-Tin Win-Shwe: Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba-City 305-8506, Japan
Ohn Mar: Department of Physiology, University of Medicine 1, Yangon 11014, Myanmar

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-17

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.

Keywords: formaldehyde; indoor concentration; personal exposure; clinical symptoms; anatomy dissection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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