Exposure Assessment of Formaldehyde and its Symptoms among Anatomy Laboratory Workers and Medical Students

Yaacob, Siti Hajar; Suis, Anis Julia; Awang, Normah; Sahani, Mazrura

doi:10.3923/ajaps.2013.50.55

Cited by 8 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Although formaldehyde exposure was high during grossing, observation showed that the laboratory workers wore appropriate respiratory protection with a formaldehyde cartridge filter and performed the task under a fume hood, which helps reduce exposure through inhalation. The STEL concentrations recorded in this study (0.018 -2.953 ppm) were broadly the same as those determined by Ya'acob et al [6] (2.30 ppm), who adopted a similar methodology (NIOSH 2541) to this paper. By contrast, Azari et al [50] found STEL concentrations (0.306 to 0.698 ppm) lower than those in this study.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

“…More than 50% of exposed staff in an anatomy laboratory reported a cough, throat irritation, and a runny nose while 48% experienced eye irritation [50]. Other had reported similar results and a significant difference between the prevalence of eye irritation, nose irritation, shortness of breath, headache, dry throat, and chest tightness during hours spent in dissection compared with nonworking hour [6]. In terms of PPE used, latex gloves, a 3-ply mask, a plastic coat, a lab coat, and cover shoes were often used by the laboratory workers, although these are not suitable for handling formaldehyde.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…The WHO [3] stated that the lowest formaldehyde concentration reported to cause eye irritation in humans is 0.293 ppm for 4 hours; this explains the significant eye irritation symptoms in this study as the laboratory workers were exposed to higher amounts of formaldehyde. Other study [6] identified eye and nose irritation as the most commonly reported symptoms (55%) arising from formaldehyde exposure during dissection in an anatomy laboratory. More than 50% of exposed staff in an anatomy laboratory reported a cough, throat irritation, and a runny nose while 48% experienced eye irritation [50].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is considered an occupational indoor air pollutant [3] [4] [5] because it volatilizes easily and is emitted into the working environment. Healthcare workers in contact with formaldehyde in histopathology and anatomy laboratories are at greater risk than other individuals because they are exposed to higher amounts of formaldehyde on a daily basis, either through inhalation or direct contact with the skin [6]. Various studies have shown that acute and chronic exposure to formaldehyde through inhalation is associated with respiratory symptoms and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat [7]- [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Formaldehyde Exposure, Health Symptoms and Risk Assessment among Hospital Workers in Malaysia

Zain¹,

Azmi²,

Veloo³

et al. 2019

JEP

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Formaldehyde is a chemical commonly used in hospitals as a tissue preservative; histopathology laboratory personnel are therefore among the workers most heavily exposed to formaldehyde. This study measured the formaldehyde exposure through ambient and personal air sampling, assessed the symptoms of poor health as well as estimating the health risk among hospital workers. We conducted a comparative cross-sectional study of both histopathology laboratory (exposed) and administration (nonexposed) workers in four hospitals in the Klang Valley, Selangor, Malaysia. Ambient and personal exposure to formaldehyde was measured using the OSHA 52 and NIOSH 2541 methods, respectively. The 8-hr time-weighted-average formaldehyde concentration was higher in exposed areas (0.25 ± 0.11 ppm) than nonexposed areas (0.08 ± 0.02 ppm). Histopathology workers were exposed to between 140% and 480% higher concentrations of formaldehyde than administration workers. Personal exposure was highest during grossing tasks (0.797 ± 0.436 ppm). A total of 67% of the exposed workers exhibited the same ten health symptoms related to formaldehyde exposure, and 57% of the nonexposed workers reported similar symptoms at their current workplace. Notably, symptoms of eye irritation, headache, drowsiness, and chest tightness were significantly more prevalent (p < 0.05; chi square and Fisher's exact tests) among the exposed workers than the nonexposed workers. Among those with symptoms, 37% of the exposed workers, and 16% of the nonexposed workers believed that the symptoms were related to their current working environment. The noncancer effect of formaldehyde from air inhalation poses a potential risk of eye irritation among exposed workers. The cancer risk was not significant in both groups. Formaldehyde levels and symptoms of poor health were significantly higher among the exposed group.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Formaldehyde Exposure, Health Symptoms and Risk Assessment among Hospital Workers in Malaysia

Zain¹,

Azmi²,

Veloo³

et al. 2019

JEP

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“…Yaacob et al reported eye and nose irritation among medical students and anatomy lab personnel due to formaldehyde exposure. [23] Our results have also been confirmed by other studies. [24][25][26] The linear regression…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Untitled

Dehaghi¹

2018

AJP

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Background and Aim:Air pollutants such as formaldehyde can affect lung functions and make distortion in gas changing of lungs. The volumes and the flows of each breath can be measured with spirometer test. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of formaldehyde exposure on the pulmonary function test in hospital staffs. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a hospital and involving 60 participants (30 staffs in exposed group and 30 staffs in control group). The measurement of formaldehyde concentration was using method 3500 national institute for occupational safety and health. In this study, a questionnaire was used to evaluate and determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms. Spirometry test was used to evaluate the parameters of pulmonary function in two groups. t-tests and Chi-square as statistics tests were used to create data analysis. Results: The respiratory symptoms showed a significant difference between exposed group and control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, parameters of pulmonary function forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in the first second, and peak expiratory flow in the exposed group and the control group were significantly different (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study showed that exposed group with formalin has complex disorder of both restrictive and obstructive types.

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