Reducing the levels of formaldehyde exposure in gross anatomy laboratories.
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.
Coleman
R
R
Division of Morphological Sciences, Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa.
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000715:Anatomy; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014691:Ventilation / Q000379:methods
D005557:Formaldehyde