Health impact of prolonged exposure to formaldehyde in embalming staff of medical colleges in North India
Stephen Monday, Atul Khajuria, Marche Saygee TohABSTRACT
Background:
Medical colleges use formaldehyde for the preservation of cadavers, but long-term exposure for embalming staff can be harmful to health.
Objective:
The objective of the study was to evaluate the health consequences linked with chronic exposure to formaldehyde in embalming staff in Northern Indian medical colleges.
Materials and Methods:
An organized questionnaire was administered to 815 embalming staff in various medical colleges using a cross-sectional study design. The data were analyzed for symptoms of ill health and safety measures associated with formaldehyde exposure.
Results:
Of the total, 63% had some respiratory symptoms, 48% had some degree of eye irritation, and 37% had some skin symptoms. Symptoms of fatigue and headache were also reported by 42%. Compliance with personal protective equipment was very low, with only 29% of participants reporting regular use of respirators. Almost 40% of participants cited lack of adequate ventilation in their workspaces.
Conclusion:
Significant health effects on the respiratory, dermatology, ophthalmology, and neurology systems can be associated with increased exposure of embalmers to formaldehyde. Measures of occupational safety and regular health monitoring need to be instituted.