title: Formaldehyde exposure levels and serum antibodies to formaldehyde-human serum albumin of Korean medical students.
abstract: In our study, we estimated formaldehyde exposure levels of Korean medical students during their cadaver dissection practice hours. In addition, we examined the prevalence rates of formaldehyde-specific immunoglobulin E or immunoglobulin G antibodies and compared the results with the symptoms the students experienced as a result of formaldehyde exposure. There were 167 Korean medical students (i.e., subjects) aged 23.8+/-2.5 y (mean+/-standard deviation) and a control group of 67 premedical students aged 20.1+/-2.8 y (mean+/-standard deviation). Concentrations of formaldehyde in the cadaver dissection practice laboratory ranged from 0.194 to 11.245 mg/m3 (3.736+/-3.478 mg/m3 [mean+/-standard deviation]). Students reported by self-administered questionnaires that eye soreness (92.8%) and lacrimation (74.9%) were the most common symptoms they experienced during the laboratory sessions. One (0.6%) of the 167 medical students had a history of wheezing during dissection. Fourteen (8.4%) had specific immunoglobulin G antibody, but none had specific immunoglobulin E antibody. These results suggest that (a) Korean medical students are exposed to formaldehyde at a relatively high levels in their dissection practice hours, (b) specific immunoglobulin G is not related to adverse eye or respiratory symptoms, and (c) specific immunoglobulin E is rarely induced as a result of exposure to formaldehyde.
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Kim
authors: Y D
authors: YD
authors: Kim
authors: S H
authors: SH
authors: Cho
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D007723:Korea; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000276:immunology*; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; C044105:formaldehyde-serum albumin; D005557:Formaldehyde; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine