Authors : Abdellah RF, Nasr El-Din WA
DOI : 10.21608/ejom.2017.3931
Volume : 41
Issue : 3
Year : 2017
Page No : 429-446
Introduction: Instructors, technicians and workers in anatomy laboratories are at high risk as they deal with formaldehyde. Aim of work: To identify the magnitude and patterns of respiratory functions changes among workers in anatomy lab exposed to formaldehyde. Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional analytic design (Ex Post Facto) carried on 34 laboratory workers exposed to formalin from anatomy departments both faculty of medicine and faculty of veterinary in Suez Canal University and 34 workers in the same institute not exposed to formaldehyde. A questionnaire was used to assess socio-demographic data, occupational history and the symptoms resulted from formaldehyde exposure. The pulmonary function tests included FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF25–75% and PEF and was carried out by computerized spirometer. Results: The mean age of the exposed group was 33.8 ±9.4 years while that of nonexposed group was 34.8 ± 9.4 years, the difference was statistically non-significant. The most common symptoms experienced among anatomy laboratories workers where cough, nasal and eye irritations, which are 76.4%, 73.5% and 70.5%, respectively. In the non-exposed group, the most commonly reported complaints were throat irritation (14.7%), cough (8.82%) and nasal irritation (8.82%). The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). All pulmonary function parameters were found to be significantly lower among the exposed group compared to the non-exposed group. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: exposure to formalin during anatomy dissection is hazardous to workers’ health in Anatomy department. Medical colleges should take more safety measures to reduce formalin exposure among Anatomy laboratories workers.