[Relationship between atopic factors and physical symptoms induced by gaseous formaldehyde exposure during an anatomy...

Formaldehyde (FA) is an occupational and general indoor hazard often affecting the respiratory airways. One of the main causes of multiple chemical sensitivity is gaseous FA, and it has become an important social problem in developed countries. FA concentrations in anatomy dissection classrooms are thought to be higher than under usual circumstances. The number of students developing physical symptoms during the anatomy dissection course in our university has been increasing over recent years. We planned to clarify the causes of such symptoms. Ninety-five medical students were interviewed using a questionnaire about allergic histories, physical symptoms developed during the anatomy dissection course, and symptoms related to chemical sensitivity up to three months after the course had finished. We measured total IgE, specific IgE to FA and specific IgE to house dust mites. Eighty-three percent of students had experienced symptoms, such as burning eyes, nasal discharge, sore throat, general fatigue or skin irritation during the course. Fifty percent of students had a past history of atopic disease. Fifty-eight percent of students tested positive to specific IgE to house dust mites; however, only one student, who did not complain of any symptoms during the course, tested positive to FA-IgE. Students with atopic factors (present histories of atopic diseases and higher total IgE) and/or chemical sensitivity demonstrated worse physical symptoms during the anatomy dissection course than students without such histories. In conclusion, it is suggested that gaseous FA exposure may exacerbate basic allergic symptoms, and moreover that people with chemical sensitivity demonstrated worse symptoms following gaseous FA exposure. Nevertheless, in our study we find no relationship between FA-IgE and the physical symptoms of gaseous FA exposure during or following an anatomy dissection course.