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The Effects of Occupational Formaldehyde Exposure on the Health of Anatomy Employees

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 99 - 107, 31.08.2025
https://doi.org/10.33720/kisgd.1679772

Abstract

Formaldehyde is a chemical widely used in industrial applications, requiring careful handling due to its toxic effects. Particularly in anatomy laboratories where it is used for cadaver fixation, formaldehyde poses various health risks to employees and students. Exposure can occur through different routes such as inhalation, dermal contact, ocular exposure, and ingestion, leading to severe health problems including allergic reactions, cancer, neurological damage, and reproductive issues. To minimize formaldehyde levels in laboratory environments, measures such as optimizing ventilation systems, using personal protective equipment, and researching alternative fixatives should be implemented. Despite its toxic effects, formaldehyde remains in use due to its effectiveness and low cost.

References

  • D.S. Raja and B. Sultana, “Potential health hazards for students exposed to formaldehyde in the gross anatomy laboratory,” Journal of Environmental Health, vol. 74 no. 6, pp. 36-41, 2012.
  • R. Coleman and I. Kogan, “An improved low-formaldehyde embalming fluid to preserve cadavers for anatomy teaching,” Journal of Anatomy, vol. 192 no. 3, 443–446, 1998.
  • M.C. Mirabelli, S.M. Holt and J.M. Cope, “Anatomy laboratory instruction and occupational exposure to formaldehyde,” Occupational and environmental medicine, vol. 68 no.5, pp. 375-378, 2011.
  • D. Demiryürek, A. Bayramoglu and S. Ustaçelebi, “Infective agents in fixed human cadavers: a brief review and suggested guidelines,” AnatRec, vol. 269 no. 194e7, 2002.
  • F.A. Alnagar, M.E. Shmela, A.M. Alrtib, F.M. Benashour, A.O. Buker and A.M. Abdalmula, “Health adverse effects of formaldehyde exposure to students and staff in gross anatomy,” International Journal of Scientific Research and Management, vol. 6 no. 2, pp. 27-36, 2018.
  • C.N. Wei, K. Harada, S. Ohmori, Q.J. Wei, K. Minamoto, A. Ueda, “Subjective symptoms of medical students exposed to formaldehyde during a gross anatomy dissection course,” Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol, vol. 20 (2 Suppl 2),pp. 23-5, 2007.
  • M. İnci, İ. Zararsız, M. Davarcı and S. Görür, “Toxic effects of formaldehyde on the urinary system,” Turkish journal of urology, vol. 39 no.1, pp. 48, 2007.
  • F. Akbar Khanzadeh, M.U. Vaquerano, M. Akbar Khanzadeh and M.S. Bisesi, “Formaldehyde exposure, acute pulmonary response, and exposure control options in a gross anatomy laboratory,” American Journal of Industrial Medicine, vol. 26 no. 1, pp.61-75, 1994.
  • H. Abdu, Y. Kinfu and A. Agalu, “Toxic effects of formaldehyde on the nervous system,” International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, vol. 3 no. 3, pp. 050-059, 2014.
  • N.S.M. Elshaer and M.A.E. Mahmoud, “Toxic effects of formalin-treated cadaver on medical students, staff members, and workers in the Alexandria Faculty of Medicine,” Alexandria journal of medicine, vol. 53 no. 4, pp. 337-343, 2014.
  • A. Duong, C. Steinmaus, C.M. McHale, C.P. Vaughan and L. Zhang, “Reproductive and developmental toxicity of formaldehyde: a systematic review, Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research, vol. 728 no. 3, pp. 118-138, 2011.
  • C.K. Hawley and H.H. Harsch, “Gastric outlet obstruction as a late complication of formaldehyde ingestion: A case report,” American Journal of Gastroenterology, vol. 94 no.8, pp. 2289–2291, 1999.
  • D.C. Lorenzoni, et al. “Could formaldehyde induce mutagenic and cytotoxic effects in buccal epithelial cells during anatomy classes?” Medicina oral, patologia oral y cirugia bucal, vol. 22 no.1, pp. e58, 2016.
  • J.M. Hansen, K.M. Contreras and C. Harris, “Methanol, formaldehyde, and sodium formate exposure in rat and mouse conceptuses: A potential role of the visceral yolk sac in embryo toxicity,” Birth Defects Research, Part A, Clinical and Molecular Teratology, vol. 73 no.2, pp. 72–82, 2005.
  • F. Wantke, et al. “Exposure to formaldehyde and phenol during an anatomy dissecting course: Sensitizing potency of formaldehyde in medical students,” Allergy, vol 55 no.1, pp. 84–87, 2000.
  • X. Yang, Y.P. Zhang, D. Chen, W.G. Chen and R. Wang R, “Eye irritation caused by formaldehyde as an indoor air pollution—A controlled human exposure experiment,” Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, vol. 14 no.3, pp. 229–236, 2001.
  • G. d’Ettorre, M. Criscuolo and M. Mazzotta, “Managing Formaldehyde indoor pollution in anatomy pathology departments,” Work, vol. 56 no. 3, pp. 397-402, 2017.
  • L. Pinkerton, M.J. Hein, and L.T. Stayner, “Mortality among a cohort of garment workers exposed to formaldehyde: An update,” Occupational and Environmental Medicine, vol. 61, pp. 193–200, 2004.
  • M. Hauptmann, J.H. Lubin, P.A. Stewart, R.B. Hayes, and A. Blair, “Mortality from lymphohematopoietic malignancies among workers in formaldehyde industries,” Journal of the National Cancer Institute, vol. 95 no. 21, pp. 1615–1623, 2003.
  • D. Adamović, et al. “Occupational exposure to formaldehyde and cancer risk assessment in an anatomy laboratory,” International journal of environmental research and public health vol. 18 no. 21, pp. 11198, 2021.
  • W.Y. Aung, et al. “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 vol. 18 no. 2, pp. 712, 2021.
  • R.C. Klein, C. King and P. Castagna, “Controlling formaldehyde exposures in an academic gross anatomy laboratory,” Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene vol. 11 no.3, pp. 127-132, 2014.
  • Y. Balla et al. “Knowledge and Attitude of Medical Students toward the Risks of Formaldehyde in the Dissection Room: A Survey Study,” Int J Anat Res, vol. 13 no. 1, pp. 9162-67, 2025.
  • A. Neyem, et al. “Enhancing medical anatomy education with the integration of virtual reality into traditional lab settings,” Clinical Anatomy, vol 38 no.3, pp. 249-268, 2025.
  • O. Turamanlar, H. Kaçar, “Anatomists’ views on cadaver and cadaver procurement in medical education,” Health Scıences Quarterly, vol 5 no.1, pp. 33-41, 2025.

Mesleki Formaldehit Maruziyetinin Anatomi Çalışanlarının Sağlığına Etkileri

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 99 - 107, 31.08.2025
https://doi.org/10.33720/kisgd.1679772

Abstract

Formaldehit, endüstriyel uygulamalarda yaygın olarak kullanılan, toksik etkileri nedeniyle dikkatle ele alınması gereken bir kimyasaldır. Özellikle anatomi laboratuvarlarında kadavra fiksasyonu için kullanılan formaldehit, çalışanlar ve öğrenciler için çeşitli sağlık riskleri taşımaktadır. Maruziyet, solunum yolu, cilt, göz ve sindirim sistemi gibi farklı yollarla gerçekleşebilir ve alerjik reaksiyonlar, kanser, nörolojik hasar ve üreme sorunları gibi ciddi sağlık sorunlarına yol açabilir. Laboratuvar ortamındaki formaldehit seviyelerini minimize etmek için havalandırma sistemlerinin optimizasyonu, kişisel koruyucu ekipman kullanımı ve alternatif fiksatiflerin araştırılması gibi önlemler alınmalıdır. Formaldehitin toksik etkilerine rağmen, etkinliği ve düşük maliyeti nedeniyle kullanımı devam etmektedir.

References

  • D.S. Raja and B. Sultana, “Potential health hazards for students exposed to formaldehyde in the gross anatomy laboratory,” Journal of Environmental Health, vol. 74 no. 6, pp. 36-41, 2012.
  • R. Coleman and I. Kogan, “An improved low-formaldehyde embalming fluid to preserve cadavers for anatomy teaching,” Journal of Anatomy, vol. 192 no. 3, 443–446, 1998.
  • M.C. Mirabelli, S.M. Holt and J.M. Cope, “Anatomy laboratory instruction and occupational exposure to formaldehyde,” Occupational and environmental medicine, vol. 68 no.5, pp. 375-378, 2011.
  • D. Demiryürek, A. Bayramoglu and S. Ustaçelebi, “Infective agents in fixed human cadavers: a brief review and suggested guidelines,” AnatRec, vol. 269 no. 194e7, 2002.
  • F.A. Alnagar, M.E. Shmela, A.M. Alrtib, F.M. Benashour, A.O. Buker and A.M. Abdalmula, “Health adverse effects of formaldehyde exposure to students and staff in gross anatomy,” International Journal of Scientific Research and Management, vol. 6 no. 2, pp. 27-36, 2018.
  • C.N. Wei, K. Harada, S. Ohmori, Q.J. Wei, K. Minamoto, A. Ueda, “Subjective symptoms of medical students exposed to formaldehyde during a gross anatomy dissection course,” Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol, vol. 20 (2 Suppl 2),pp. 23-5, 2007.
  • M. İnci, İ. Zararsız, M. Davarcı and S. Görür, “Toxic effects of formaldehyde on the urinary system,” Turkish journal of urology, vol. 39 no.1, pp. 48, 2007.
  • F. Akbar Khanzadeh, M.U. Vaquerano, M. Akbar Khanzadeh and M.S. Bisesi, “Formaldehyde exposure, acute pulmonary response, and exposure control options in a gross anatomy laboratory,” American Journal of Industrial Medicine, vol. 26 no. 1, pp.61-75, 1994.
  • H. Abdu, Y. Kinfu and A. Agalu, “Toxic effects of formaldehyde on the nervous system,” International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, vol. 3 no. 3, pp. 050-059, 2014.
  • N.S.M. Elshaer and M.A.E. Mahmoud, “Toxic effects of formalin-treated cadaver on medical students, staff members, and workers in the Alexandria Faculty of Medicine,” Alexandria journal of medicine, vol. 53 no. 4, pp. 337-343, 2014.
  • A. Duong, C. Steinmaus, C.M. McHale, C.P. Vaughan and L. Zhang, “Reproductive and developmental toxicity of formaldehyde: a systematic review, Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research, vol. 728 no. 3, pp. 118-138, 2011.
  • C.K. Hawley and H.H. Harsch, “Gastric outlet obstruction as a late complication of formaldehyde ingestion: A case report,” American Journal of Gastroenterology, vol. 94 no.8, pp. 2289–2291, 1999.
  • D.C. Lorenzoni, et al. “Could formaldehyde induce mutagenic and cytotoxic effects in buccal epithelial cells during anatomy classes?” Medicina oral, patologia oral y cirugia bucal, vol. 22 no.1, pp. e58, 2016.
  • J.M. Hansen, K.M. Contreras and C. Harris, “Methanol, formaldehyde, and sodium formate exposure in rat and mouse conceptuses: A potential role of the visceral yolk sac in embryo toxicity,” Birth Defects Research, Part A, Clinical and Molecular Teratology, vol. 73 no.2, pp. 72–82, 2005.
  • F. Wantke, et al. “Exposure to formaldehyde and phenol during an anatomy dissecting course: Sensitizing potency of formaldehyde in medical students,” Allergy, vol 55 no.1, pp. 84–87, 2000.
  • X. Yang, Y.P. Zhang, D. Chen, W.G. Chen and R. Wang R, “Eye irritation caused by formaldehyde as an indoor air pollution—A controlled human exposure experiment,” Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, vol. 14 no.3, pp. 229–236, 2001.
  • G. d’Ettorre, M. Criscuolo and M. Mazzotta, “Managing Formaldehyde indoor pollution in anatomy pathology departments,” Work, vol. 56 no. 3, pp. 397-402, 2017.
  • L. Pinkerton, M.J. Hein, and L.T. Stayner, “Mortality among a cohort of garment workers exposed to formaldehyde: An update,” Occupational and Environmental Medicine, vol. 61, pp. 193–200, 2004.
  • M. Hauptmann, J.H. Lubin, P.A. Stewart, R.B. Hayes, and A. Blair, “Mortality from lymphohematopoietic malignancies among workers in formaldehyde industries,” Journal of the National Cancer Institute, vol. 95 no. 21, pp. 1615–1623, 2003.
  • D. Adamović, et al. “Occupational exposure to formaldehyde and cancer risk assessment in an anatomy laboratory,” International journal of environmental research and public health vol. 18 no. 21, pp. 11198, 2021.
  • W.Y. Aung, et al. “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 vol. 18 no. 2, pp. 712, 2021.
  • R.C. Klein, C. King and P. Castagna, “Controlling formaldehyde exposures in an academic gross anatomy laboratory,” Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene vol. 11 no.3, pp. 127-132, 2014.
  • Y. Balla et al. “Knowledge and Attitude of Medical Students toward the Risks of Formaldehyde in the Dissection Room: A Survey Study,” Int J Anat Res, vol. 13 no. 1, pp. 9162-67, 2025.
  • A. Neyem, et al. “Enhancing medical anatomy education with the integration of virtual reality into traditional lab settings,” Clinical Anatomy, vol 38 no.3, pp. 249-268, 2025.
  • O. Turamanlar, H. Kaçar, “Anatomists’ views on cadaver and cadaver procurement in medical education,” Health Scıences Quarterly, vol 5 no.1, pp. 33-41, 2025.
There are 25 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Subjects Occupational Health and Safety
Journal Section Occupational Health and Safety
Authors

Ozan Turamanlar 0000-0002-0785-483X

Publication Date August 31, 2025
Submission Date April 19, 2025
Acceptance Date June 2, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 9 Issue: 2

Cite

IEEE O. Turamanlar, “Mesleki Formaldehit Maruziyetinin Anatomi Çalışanlarının Sağlığına Etkileri”, kisgd, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 99–107, 2025, doi: 10.33720/kisgd.1679772.