Measurement of formaldehyde concentrations in a human anatomy laboratory, comparing them with international standards

Abstract

Introduction. The Human Anatomy Laboratory has corpses that have been subjected to the process of tissue fixation and conservation through the application of formaldehyde (10%), a substance that is toxic and carcinogenic to humans, as stipulated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (iarc), to which students, teachers and technicians are exposed. The purpose of this research was to measure the concentrations of formaldehyde in the environment within the facilities of a Human Anatomy laboratory and compare them with international labor standards. Methodology. The study design was cross-sectional with a descriptive approach. The study sample consisted of 640 measurements made with the hal-hfx105 HalTech digital device and applying the ntp 587 prevention technical standard, validated for the determination of organic gases and vapors in the air inside the laboratory. Result. The overall estimated average formaldehyde concentration within the Anatomy Laboratory facilities was 0.24 ppm. Conclusion. The average concentration of formaldehyde found in this study is lower than the occupational exposure limit estimated by the American Conference of Industrial Hygienists (acgih), whose value tlv-twa (Threshold Limit Value-Time Weighted Average) for a working day of 8 hours and a 40-hour week, and the maximum limit to the concentrations that any worker can be exposed to day after day without adverse effects, is 0.3 ppm.