title: Determination of formaldehyde levels in 100 furniture workshops in Ankara.
abstract: One of the airborne pollutants in wood products industry is formaldehyde, which may pose some health effects. Therefore this study is conducted to determine formaldehyde levels in 100 furniture-manufacturing workshops in Ankara and also to determine the symptoms, which may be related with formaldehyde exposure among the workers. Indoor formaldehyde levels ranged from 0.02 ppm to 2.22 ppm with a mean of 0.6 +/- 0.3 ppm. Outdoor formaldehyde levels also ranged from 0.0 ppm to 0.08 ppm with a mean of 0.03 +/- 0.03 ppm. Formaldehyde levels were higher in workplaces located at basement than in workplaces located at or above ground level (p < 0.01). An association was found between indoor formaldehyde levels and the types of fuel used (p < 0.05). The levels were higher in workplaces where only sawdust was used for heating, than in workplaces where wood, coal, and sawdust are used (p = 0.02). An association was found between runny nose and indoor formaldehyde levels (p = 0.03). Formaldehyde levels were lower in workplaces where employees had no symptoms than in those where employees had 4 or more symptoms (p = 0.02). Of 229 employees 57 subjects (24.9%) work under the formaldehyde levels of 0.75 ppm and above. Thus, approximately one fourth of the employees in workplaces are working in environments with formaldehyde levels exceeding those permitted by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The employees working in small-scale furniture workshops are at risk of formaldehyde exposure. Measures, such as improved ventilation, have to be taken in these workplaces, in order to decrease the formaldehyde levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. sacar@hacettepe.edu.tr
authors.forename: Songül Acar
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Vaizoğlu
authors.forename: Sefer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aycan
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Akin
authors.forename: Pelin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koçdor
authors.forename: Gül
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pamukçu
authors.forename: Orkun
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Muhsinoğlu
authors.forename: Feyza
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ozer
authors.forename: E Didem
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Evci
authors.forename: Cağatay
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Güler
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014934:Wood; D017132:Workplace
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D005557:Formaldehyde