Formaldehyde exposure of medical students and instructors and clinical symptoms during gross anatomy laboratory in Thammasat University.

To study formaldehyde concentrations in the breathing zone and symptoms induced by gaseous formaldehyde exposure of medical students and instructors during gross anatomy laboratory at faculty of Medicine, Thammasat university. Formaldehyde concentrations in the indoor air and breathing zone of medical students were measured during the cadaver dissection. Formaldehyde concentrations in the indoor air and in the breathing zone were ranged from 0.401 to 0.581 ppm (mean 0.491 +/- 0.090) and from 0.472 to 0.848 ppm (mean 0.660 +/- 0.188) respectively. The mean of formaldehyde concentrations in the breathing zone of medical students and instructors was significantly higher than the mean of formaldehyde concentration in indoor air (p < 0.05). The most symptoms were general fatigue (82.7-87.8%), burning eyes (66.2-85.0%) and burning nose (62.5-81.1%). There was no statistically significant difference in burning eye symptom between contact lenses users and no contact lenses users (p > 0.05). Even though formaldehyde concentrations were relatively low, medical students, instructors and cadaver related workers should wear personal protective devices to reduce the effect of gaseous formaldehyde exposure during gross anatomy laboratory or contact cadaver.