Inhalation Health Risk Assessment of Formaldehyde Exposure among Staff and Students in the Gross Anatomy Laboratory
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59796/jcst.V15N4.2025.144Keywords:
formaldehyde, gross anatomy, laboratory, inhalation risk, cadaversAbstract
Staff members, and students are potentially exposed to formaldehyde vapors emitted by cadavers during gross anatomy sessions. This study aimed to assess the inhalation risk of formaldehyde exposure among individuals in gross anatomy laboratories, focusing on both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects. A total of 101 participants, comprising staff, pre-clinical students, and public health students, completed a structured questionnaire to provide demographic and exposure-related data. Simultaneously, five continuous indoor air samples were collected during 8-hour laboratory sessions following NIOSH Method 2541. The samples were analyzed at the Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health. Risk assessments were conducted based on hazard quotient (HQ) and cancer risk values. Descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, minimum, maximum, mean, and standard deviation, were applied in the data analysis. The results indicated that the formaldehyde content ranged from 54 to 74 µg/m³, with a mean ± SD of 65±10 µg/m³. Staff members exhibited the highest HQ at 4.07, exceeding the safety threshold (HQ > 1), indicating significant non-carcinogenic risk. In contrast, pre-clinical students and public health students showed HQ values below 1, suggesting relatively lower but notable exposure. Cancer risk values for all participants ranged from 7.40×10⁻⁸ to 1.27×10⁻⁹, all below the accepted threshold of 1×10⁻6, implying an acceptable level of carcinogenic risk. The findings are significant as they highlight a measurable health risk for staff regularly working in gross anatomy laboratories. It is recommended that institutions establish policies for the implementation of efficient ventilation systems, enforce the use of personal protective equipment, and consider formaldehyde alternatives where possible. In addition, future studies should look into DNA adducts and their effects on cells, particularly those related to blood disorders and long-term cancer risks linked to formaldehyde exposure.
References
Adamović, D., Čepić, Z., Adamović, S., Stošić, M., Obrovski, B., Morača, S., & Vojinović Miloradov, M. (2021). Occupational exposure to formaldehyde and cancer risk assessment in an anatomy laboratory. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(21), Article 11198. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111198
Asare-Donkor, N. K., Kusi Appiah, J., Torve, V., Voegborlo, R. B., & Adimado, A. A. (2020). Formaldehyde exposure and its potential health risk in some beauty salons in Kumasi Metropolis. Journal of Toxicology, 2020(1), Article 8875167. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8875167
Aung, W. Y., Sakamoto, H., Sato, A., Yi, E. E. P. N., Thein, Z. L., Nwe, M. S., Naing, H. T., Htut, Z. Y., & Mar, O. (2021). Indoor formaldehyde concentration, personal formaldehyde exposure and clinical symptoms during anatomy dissection sessions, University of Medicine 1, Yangon. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(2), Article 712. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020712
Baldelli, A., Jeronimo, M., Tinney, M., & Bartlett, K. (2020). Real-time measurements of formaldehyde emissions in a gross anatomy laboratory. SN Applied Sciences, 2(4), Article 769. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-020-2569-7
Bunjong, M., Soonthornchaikul, N., & Srimeechai, S. (2023). Exposure and health risk assessment of formaldehyde exposure among white shrimp pond preparation workers in white shrimp nursery farms. KKU Journal for Public Health Research, 16(2),117-125. https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/kkujphr/article/view/262637/178576
Chaiklieng, S., Tongsantia, U., & Autrup, H. N. (2021). Risk assessment of inhalation exposure to formaldehyde among workers in medical laboratories. Asia-Pacific Journal of Science and Technology, 26(4), Article APST-26-04-15. https://doi.org/10.14456/apst.2021.45
Colas, A., Baudet, A., Le Cann, P., Blanchard, O., Gangneux, J. P., Baurès, E., & Florentin, A. (2022). Quantitative health risk assessment of the chronic inhalation of chemical compounds in healthcare and elderly care facilities. Toxics, 10(3), Article 141. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10030141
Dugheri, S., Cappelli, G., Isolani, L., Squillaci, D., Bucaletti, E., Ceccarelli, J., Angelini, L., Tognoni, D., & Arcangeli, G. (2023). Strategy to evaluate the impact of formaldehyde in anatomical pathology laboratory – Part I: Occupational exposure and cancer risk. Sigurnost: Časopis za Sigurnost u Radnoj i Životnoj Okolini, 65(4), 357–371. https://doi.org/10.31306/s.65.4.1
Durongphan, A., Amornmettajit, N., Rungruang, J., Nitimanee, E., & Panichareon, B. (2020). One academic year laboratory and student breathing zone formaldehyde level, measured by gas-piston hand pump at gross anatomy laboratory, Siriraj Hospital, Thailand. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27(14), 16521-16527. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08199-0
Durongphan, A., Rungruang, J., Nitimanee, E., & Panichareon, B. (2023). The effects of enhanced formaldehyde clearance in a gross anatomy laboratory by floor plan redesign and dissection table adjustment. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(23), 64246-64253. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-26906-5
Golden, R. (2011). Identifying an indoor air exposure limit for formaldehyde considering both irritation and cancer hazards. Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 41(8), 672–721. https://doi.org/10.3109/10408444.2011.573467
Jafari, N., & Zeinali, S. (2020). Highly rapid and sensitive formaldehyde detection at room temperature using a ZIF-8/MWCNT nanocomposite. ACS Omega, 5(9), 4395–4402. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.9b03124
Jalali, M., Moghadam, S. R., Baziar, M., Hesam, G., Moradpour, Z., & Zakeri, H. R. (2021). Occupational exposure to formaldehyde, lifetime cancer probability, and hazard quotient in pathology lab employees in Iran: A quantitative risk assessment. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(2), 1878-1888. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10627-0
Khoshakhlagh, A. H., Mohammadzadeh, M., Manafi, S. S., Yousefian, F., & Gruszecka-Kosowska, A. (2023). Inhalational exposure to formaldehyde, carcinogenic, and non-carcinogenic risk assessment: A systematic review. Environmental Pollution, 331, Article 121854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121854
New Jersey Department of Health. (2016). Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/0946.pdf
Pahasupanan, T. (2020). Risk assessment of formaldehyde in gross anatomy in a University. Journal of Energy and Environment Technology of Graduate School Siam Technology College, 7(1), 61-68. https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/JEET/article/view/241316
Peng, Z., Jiang, X., Si, C., Joao Cárdenas‐Oscanoa, A., & Huang, C. (2023). Advances of modified lignin as substitute to develop lignin‐based phenol‐formaldehyde resin adhesives. Chemistry Sustainability Energy Materials, 16(15), Article e202300174. https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202300174
Sarika, P. R., Nancarrow, P., Khansaheb, A., & Ibrahim, T. (2020). Bio-based alternatives to phenol and formaldehyde for the production of resins. Polymers, 12(10), Article 2237. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12102237
Shetty, V. K. V., Singla, S., & Sangeetha, D. M. (2024). Estimation of formaldehyde levels in indoor air of gross anatomy laboratory. Journal of the Anatomical Society of India, 73(3), 233-236. https://doi.org/10.4103/jasi.jasi_24_24
Soonklang, N., & Saowakon, N. (2022). Evaluation of formaldehyde exposure among gross dissection after modified embalming solution and health assessment. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(43), 65642-65654. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19704-y
Soonklang, P., Ketsakorn, A., Homkham, N., Chaikittiporn, C., & Norkaew, S. (2025). Comparison of real-time instrument use and absorbent tube method for measuring formaldehyde in working environments: A health risk assessment for gross anatomy staff. Toxicology Reports, 14, Article 101913. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2025.101913
Tiruneh, C. (2021). 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. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 12, 41-47. https://doi.org/10.2147/AMEP.S291755
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). (2009). Risk assessment guidance for superfund, volume I: Human health evaluation manual (Part F, Supplemental guidance for inhalation risk assessment). Retrieved from https://semspub.epa.gov/work/HQ/140530.pdf
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). (1990). Formaldehyde CASRN 50-00-0. Retrieved from https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=0419
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). (2005). Guidelines for carcinogen risk assessment. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2013-09/documents/cancer_guidelines_final_3-25-05.pdf
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). (2011). IRIS: Integrated risk information system. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/iris
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). (2015). Risk screening environmental indicators (RSEI) chronic human health methodology. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2014-03/documents/rsei_methodology_v2_3_2.pdf
Widiana, D. R., Wang, Y. F., You, S. J., Yang, H. H., Wang, L. C., Tsai, J. H., & Chen, H. M. (2019). Air pollution profiles and health risk assessment of ambient volatile organic compounds above a municipal wastewater treatment plant, Taiwan. Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 19(2), 375–382. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2018.11.0408
Yahyaei, E., Majlesi, B., Pourbakhshi, Y., Ghiyasi, S., Rastani, M. J., & Heidari, M. (2020). Occupational exposure and risk assessment of formaldehyde in the pathology departments of hospitals. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 21(5), Article 1303. https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2020.21.5.1303
Yang, Y., Hao, Y., Huang, L., Luo, Y., Chen, S., Xu, M., & Chen, W. (2024). Recent advances in electrochemical sensors for formaldehyde. Molecules, 29(2), Article 327. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29020327
Zain, S. M. S. M., Azmi, W. N. F. W., Veloo, Y., & Shaharudin, R. (2019). Formaldehyde exposure, health symptoms and risk assessment among hospital workers in Malaysia. Journal of Environmental Protection, 10(06), 861-879. https://doi.org/10.4236/jep.2019.106051
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Current Science and Technology
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
