title: Managing Formaldehyde indoor pollution in anatomy pathology departments.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nearly eleven years have passed since the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified Formaldehyde (FA) as a known human carcinogen (group 1), yet the safety of anatomy pathology workers who are currently exposed to FA is still a matter of concern.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the literature to discover which topics have been focused on and what the latest developments are in managing FA indoor pollution in anatomy pathology departments. which topics have been focused on and what the latest developments in managing FA indoor pollution in anatomy pathology departments.
  
  
  METHODS
  For the purpose of this review, we searched for publications in PubMed and Web of Science using selected keywords. The articles were reviewed and categorized into one or more of the following three categories based on subject matter: exposure levels exposure controls and alternatives.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our search resulted in a total of 31 publications that matched our inclusion criteria. The topics discussed, in order of frequency (from highest to lowest), were: "exposure controls", "exposure levels" and "alternatives". The most frequently suggested intervention was to improve local exhaust ventilation systems to minimize FA levels in gross anatomy laboratories.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found a lack of evidence-based improvement interventions that aimed to control exposure to FA. According to this finding, and pending a valid chemical substitute for FA, we suggest the need for more in-depth studies targeting measures to minimize exposures to FA in pathology departments.
authors.affiliation: Local Health Authority, Health Unit of Occupational Prevention and Protection, Brindisi, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: d'Ettorre
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy Pathology, "Perrino" Hospital, Brindisi, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Criscuolo
authors.affiliation: Occupational Medicine, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazzotta
mesh_terms: D054814:Anatomists; D002102:Cadaver; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010336:Pathology / Q000193:education*; D014495:Universities / Q000458:organization & administration; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D005557:Formaldehyde
keywords: Cancer; occupational exposure; risk assessment; risk management