Neuropsychological Effects of Formaldehyde Use

Marceaux, Janice C.; Dilks, Lawrence S.; Hixson, Sheila

doi:10.1080/02791072.2008.10400632

Cited by 13 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…A number of publications make attempt to correlate work exposure to formaldehyde with cancer, including cutaneous, nasopharyngeal, lymphatic, and hematopoietic malignancies found in embalmers and funeral directors (Coggon et al, 1984; Hayes et al, 1990; Hauptmann et al, 2004, 2009; Dreyfuss, 2010; Goldstein, 2011). Additional irritating (Muzi et al, 2004; Takahashi et al, 2007; Viegas et al, 2010; Wolkoff and Nielsen, 2010), cell proliferation altering (Hester et al, 2003), and neurophysiological effects (Marceaux et al, 2008) have been described. Phenol has shown toxic and irritating effects (Murray et al, 2007; Thullner et al, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenoxyethanol‐Based Embalming for Anatomy Teaching: An 18 Years' Experience with Crosado Embalming at the University of Otago in New Zealand

Crosado

Löffler

Ondruschka

et al. 2020

Anatomical Sciences Ed

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Embalming fixatives such as formaldehyde and phenol have been associated with occupational health hazards. While anatomists aim at replacing these chemicals, this seems presently unfeasible in particular for formaldehyde. Furthermore, fixation protocols usually require well-equipped facilities with highly experienced staff to achieve good fixation results in spite of only a minimal use of formaldehyde. Combining these aspects, a technique robust enough to be carried out by morticians is presented, resulting in durable tissues with minimal formaldehyde use. An embalming protocol involving phenoxyethanol was established, using concentrations of 7 and 1.5 Vol% of phenoxyethanol in the fixative and the conservation fluid, respectively. Visual, haptic, histological, and biomechanical properties and their perceived potential to positively influence student learning outcomes were compared to standard embalming techniques. The phenoxyethanol technique provides esthetic, durable, and odorless tissues. Bleaching is less pronounced compared to ethanol-or formaldehydebased protocols. The tissues remain pliable following the phenoxyethanol-based embalming and can be used for biomechanical experiments to some extent. Phenoxyethanol-fixed tissues are well suited for undergraduate teaching with perceived positive learning outcomes and partly for postgraduate training. Phenoxyethanol tissues provide the option to obtain well-preserved histology samples, similar to those derived from formaldehyde. The provided protocol helps replace the use of phenol and formaldehyde for conservation purposes and minimizes the use of formaldehyde for the initial injection fixation. Phenoxyethanol-based embalming forms an effective alternative to standard embalming techniques for human cadavers. It is simple to use, allowing fixation procedures to be carried out in less sophisticated facilities with non-anatomy staff. Anat Sci Educ 0: 1-16.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenoxyethanol‐Based Embalming for Anatomy Teaching: An 18 Years' Experience with Crosado Embalming at the University of Otago in New Zealand

Crosado

Löffler

Ondruschka

et al. 2020

Anatomical Sciences Ed

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“…Both epidemiological and animal studies have shown that overload of exogenous formaldehyde is associated with impaired performance in learning, memory, and equilibrium, and even results in damage to the central nervous system [3,4] . In addition, intentional ingestion of significant doses of formaldehyde revealed a decline in the neuropsychological integrity of participants [5] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Uric formaldehyde levels are negatively correlated with cognitive abilities in healthy older adults

Zhou

et al. 2014

Neurosci. Bull.

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Recent studies have shown that the abnormal accumulation of endogenous formaldehyde could be a critical factor in age-related cognitive decline. The aim of this study was to estimate the correlation between uric formaldehyde and general cognitive abilities in a community-based elderly population, and to measure the extent and direction in which the correlation varied with demographic characteristics. Using a double-blind design, formaldehyde in human urine was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (n = 604), and general cognitive abilities were measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Demographic characteristics, in terms of age, gender, residential region, and education were taken into consideration. We found that uric formaldehyde levels were inversely correlated with the MoCA score, and the concentration varied with demographic features: higher odds of a high formaldehyde level occurred among the less educated and those living in old urban or rural areas. In cytological experiments, the level of cellular formaldehyde released into the medium increased as SH-SY5Y and BV2 cells were incubated for three days. Formaldehyde in excess impaired the processes of N2a cells and neurites of primary cultured rat hippocampal cells. However, removal of formaldehyde markedly rescued and regenerated the processes of N2a cells. These results demonstrated a negative correlation between the endogenous formaldehyde and general cognitive abilities. High formaldehyde levels could be a risk factor for cognitive impairment in older adults, and could be developed as a non-invasive marker for detection and monitoring of age-related cognitive impairment.

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“…Formaldehyde deregulates pathways of DNA synthesis and repair, and it interferes with regulation of cell proliferation (Hester et al,2003). In addition, neuropsychological effects related to formaldehyde have been described (Marceaux et al,2008). Due to the potential health effects of formaldehyde, dissection rooms in Germany have been shut down temporarily.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethanol‐glycerin fixation with thymol conservation: A potential alternative to formaldehyde and phenol embalming

Hammer

Löffler

Feja

et al. 2012

Anatomical Sciences Ed

102

133

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Anatomical fixation and conservation are required to prevent specimens from undergoing autolysis and decomposition. While fixation is the primary arrest of the structures responsible for autolysis and decomposition, conservation preserves the state of fixation. Although commonly used, formaldehyde has been classified as carcinogenic to humans. For this reason, an adequate substitute was developed. Ethanol-glycerin fixation and thymol conservation are described and compared with formaldehyde and phenol in this technical report. The setup, tissue qualities, financial aspects, and health concerns of this method are discussed. Ethanol-glycerin fixation and thymol conservation provide outstanding haptic and optic tissue qualities. Typical formaldehyde and phenol effects, such as skin, airway, and eye irritation, as well as carcinogenic effects, can be circumvented by using ethanol-glycerin and thymol instead. Ethanol-glycerin fixation is more expensive than formaldehyde and requires an explosion-proof facility. However, the absence of health effects and its convincing tissue qualities balance these higher costs. Therefore, ethanol-glycerin fixation and thymol conservation provide a potential alternative and complement established fixation techniques. The use of carcinogenic formaldehyde and toxic phenol can be effectively restricted through the use of the described method.

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Neuropsychological Effects of Formaldehyde Use

Cited by 13 publications

References 3 publications

Phenoxyethanol‐Based Embalming for Anatomy Teaching: An 18 Years' Experience with Crosado Embalming at the University of Otago in New Zealand

Phenoxyethanol‐Based Embalming for Anatomy Teaching: An 18 Years' Experience with Crosado Embalming at the University of Otago in New Zealand

Uric formaldehyde levels are negatively correlated with cognitive abilities in healthy older adults

Ethanol‐glycerin fixation with thymol conservation: A potential alternative to formaldehyde and phenol embalming

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