Open AccessA Novel Local Ventilation System to Reduce the Levels of Formaldehyde Exposure during a Gross Anatomy Dissection Course and its Evaluation Using Real‐Time Monitoring
Author(s) -
Yamato Hiroshi,
Nakashima Tamiji,
Kikuta Akio,
Kunugita Naoki,
Arashidani Keiichi,
Nagafuchi Yoshihiro,
Tanaka Isamu
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of occupational health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 1348-9585
DOI - 10.1539/joh.47.450
Subject(s) - gross anatomy , library science , dissection (medical) , medicine , medical education , anatomy , computer science
Formaldehyde has been widely used as a disinfectant and preservative (known as formalin) in medical fields. The use of volatile substances including formaldehyde in buildings causes a particular health effect commonly referred to as Sick-House Syndrome. In 1999, the former Ministry of Health and Welfare proposed that the concentrations of indoor formaldehyde should be less than 80 ppb; a value consistent with that of the WHO indoor air quality guideline. Furthermore, in 2002, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare issued guidelines for the reduction of formaldehyde concentrations in workplaces, requiring that employers should make efforts to maintain indoor concentrations of formaldehyde below 80 ppb for general workplaces and 250 ppb for specific workplaces where formaldehyde is handled. In 2001, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology took action to deal with the problem of medical and dental students’ exposure to formaldehyde in gross anatomy laboratories. The ministry’s action prompted a number of surveys on the actual conditions pertaining to students’ exposure to gaseous formaldehyde. Those results revealed that the concentrations of formaldehyde might exceed 1,000 ppb in ordinary gross anatomy dissection laboratories. It is necessary to reduce formaldehyde exposure when medical students and lecturers are exposed during gross anatomy dissection courses. However, it is costly to change exhaust fans to larger ones or to install additional exhaust systems. The purpose of this paper was to try to solve this problem of formaldehyde exposure with an effective, practical and low-cost countermeasure.