Paraformaldehyde sterilant use in vocational high school program.
Formaldehyde fumigants are required by many state licensing boards to be used in cosmetology and hair dressing kits to sterilize tools, utensils, combs, and brushes. In vocational training programs, a large number of kits or toolboxes are concentrated in one classroom. This article provides a mathematical exposure model based upon determining the generation rate of formaldehyde vapor, the air exchange rate of the classroom, and the number of fumigant containers. It is determined that in a well-mixed and ventilated classroom with 3.5 air changes per hour, the Threshold Limit Ceiling Value will not be exceeded. Nevertheless, because of uncertainty regarding the concentration and duration of exposure necessary to achieve immune sensitization of students, alternative sterilant methods are preferred. The mathematical model can be used to estimate the airborne concentration of formaldehyde at other vocational, cosmetology, or tonsorial establishments.
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Brujos Scientific Incorporated, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003358:Cosmetics; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011108:Polymers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012574:Schools
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D003358:Cosmetics; D011108:Polymers; D005557:Formaldehyde; C003043:paraform