Biomaterial Database

Reducing the levels of formaldehyde exposure in gross anatomy laboratories. 1995

R Coleman

Division of Morphological Sciences, Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa.

BACKGROUND A method is described in which formaldehyde levels are greatly reduced in our gross anatomy laboratory in order to comply with increasingly severe safety and health regulations. METHODS A novel type of dissection "bed" has been introduced which incorporates an internal motor that causes a downflow of formaldehyde-rich vapors, which are absorbed by a replaceable active carbon filtration system. RESULTS Use of the new dissection "beds" has resulted in the recirculated air being virtually formaldehyde-free. Formaldehyde vapor levels in our gross anatomy laboratory have been greatly reduced and are typically in the range of 0.03-0.09 ppm. CONCLUSIONS The new system allows us to comply with safety and health regulations and provide a dissection room with an excellent working environment.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007753	Laboratories	Facilities equipped to carry out investigative procedures.	Laboratory
D005557	Formaldehyde	A highly reactive aldehyde gas formed by oxidation or incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons. In solution, it has a wide range of uses: in the manufacture of resins and textiles, as a disinfectant, and as a laboratory fixative or preservative. Formaldehyde solution (formalin) is considered a hazardous compound, and its vapor toxic. (From Reynolds, Martindale The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p717)	Formalin,Formol,Methanal,Oxomethane
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000715	Anatomy	A branch of biology dealing with the structure of organisms.	Anatomies
D014691	Ventilation	Supplying a building or house, their rooms and corridors, with fresh air. The controlling of the environment thus may be in public or domestic sites and in medical or non-medical locales. (From Dorland, 28th ed)	Ventilations
D016273	Occupational Exposure	The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents that occurs as a result of one's occupation.	Exposure, Occupational,Exposures, Occupational,Occupational Exposures
D016902	Air Pollution, Indoor	The contamination of indoor air.	Air Quality, Indoor,Indoor Air Pollution,Indoor Air Quality,Pollution, Indoor Air