Toxic effects of formalin on the medical students of South Valley University following repeated exposure at the anatomy laboratories

Abstract

Citation: Ahmed et al., 2020, Toxic effects of formalin on the medical students of South Valley University following repeated exposure at the anatomy laboratories. SVU-IJVS 2020, 3(1): 80-86. AbstractFormalin is widely used in the anatomy dissecting rooms to preserve the animal cadavers and biological specimens in veterinary medical schools. Veterinary medical students at South Valley University are routinely exposed to formalin during their practical training. Although formalin is known to cause severe health problems, the toxic effects of formalin on the veterinary students at South Valley University has not been investigated before. Thus, the current study aimed to explore the toxic effects of exposure of veterinary medical students to formalin in the anatomy laboratories and to suggest some preventive measures to reduce its toxic effects. For this purpose, a total number of 167 students from the first-and the second-year at the department of anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University were surveyed. Approximately 79.6% of the students suffered from unpleasant smell, followed by eye irritation (63.6%), nasal irritation (51.5%), headache (44.9%), breathing difficulties (39.5), visual disturbance (29.5), lack of concentration (26.9%), cough (25.1%), lethargy and fatigue (19.2%), nausea (18%), digestive disturbance (14.4%), sore throat and dryness (12%), sleep disturbance (4.8%) and fainting (6%).In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that the Veterinary Medical students are at risk of severe health problems due to prolonged exposure to formalin in the anatomy dissecting rooms. This calls The South Valley University authorities to apply a guideline to reduce the effect of exposure to formaldehyde in the anatomy laboratories.

Acute Adverse Effects of Formaldehyde Treated Cadaver on New Innovative Medical Students and Anatomy Staff Members in the Dissection Hall at Wollo University, Northeast Ethiopia

“…16 And also, another study conducted on toxic effects of formalin in Egypt by Ahmed et al; found that the majority of students were suffered from unpleasant smell (79.6%) followed by eye irritation (63.6%). 17 In contrast to the current study, a study which was conducted in India by Nisa et al revealed that the most common reported symptoms related to formalin by medical students were watering of eyes (88.1%) followed by running nose with a tingling sensation in the nose (30.7%). He also investigated that watering of the eye was the first reported symptom to develop in most medical students (74.8%).…”

Job and demographic risk factors influencing cellular mediated hypersensitivity among Nigerian Laboratory University workers in multiple chemical exposures

“…Over the recent time, the use of natural and synthetic chemicals has largely created our modern world which has improved the lives of billions of people. Some of these chemicals have been used by the food industry to improve food safety and quality and reduce spoilage and wastage, thus increase its availability, accessibility, and affordability [1,2]. As with any technology, the use of such chemicals are not without certain risks especially in a developing nation which Nigeria is one where international standards and practices like Occupational Safety Health and Administration (OSHA), Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and international organization for standardization (ISO) are not in good place therefore, these need to be addressed and actively managed.…”