Characterizing formaldehyde emission rates in a gross anatomy laboratory

The evaporation of formaldehyde from cadavers in gross anatomy laboratories can produce high exposures among students and instructors. To understand the system that produces exposures and to plan for implementing control options, the generation of formaldehyde vapors must be characterized. A gross anatomy laboratory with 47 dissecting tables was studied during 15 lab sessions over a period of 16 weeks. Area concentrations were measured using National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) method 3500. Average daily area concentrations in the laboratory ranged from 0.635 to 1.82 mg/m3. The ventilation was characterized on three separate days. The laboratory had a general ventilation rate of 9.8 air changes per hour. There was no local exhaust ventilation. The concentration measurements were used in a mass balance model along with ventilation rates to determine formaldehyde emission rates. The daily average formaldehyde emission rate from all sources in the laboratory ranged from 95.2-274 mg/min, with an average of 148 mg/min over the course of the study. This total emission rate was used along with the number of dissecting tables to develop an emission factor of 3.15 mg/min per table. The emission factor is a generalizable tool that can be used in laboratories of various sizes to predict emission rates and develop control strategies. This emission factor is applicable where the cadavers are prepared with similar embalming fluid consisting of approximately 10 percent formaldehyde.