Acute effects of formalin on pulmonary functions in gross anatomy laboratory

Formaldehyde is a common indoor pollutant with irritant properties. The present study was undertaken in first year medical students to study the acute effects of it on their first exposure in gross anatomy laboratory. Twenty randomly selected subjects aged between 18 to 20 years and non smokers had undergone pulmonary function testing thrice. First being baseline values then immediately after their first dissection class (2 hrs.) and lastly 24 hrs after their first exposure. All the tests were performed on Siblemed 120 B portable spirometer with inbuilt computer programme under standard laboratory conditions. It was observed that FVC decreased in subjects immediately after their first exposure but reverted back to normal within 24 hrs. While all other lung function parameters remained unchanged, indicating some mild transient bronchoconstriction on acute exposure to formalin. The study needs to be extended with larger number of subjects.