Abstract

Occupational exposure to the known carcinogen formaldehyde during embalming (the preservation of cadavers) has been well documented. Cadavers may be transported to universities on loan for training medical professionals in human anatomy courses. However, occupational formaldehyde exposure levels associated with the transportation of cadavers have not previously been published. Therefore, the current pilot study examined formaldehyde exposure during this process. Preserved intact cadavers (room temperature or cooled) were loaded into cargo vans at the source (lending) lab, driven to the destination (borrowing) lab, and unloaded. Dissected cadavers (room temperature) were picked up and loaded into the cargo vans at the destination lab and driven to and unloaded at the source lab. Formaldehyde samples were collected in the breathing zone of employees engaged in cadaver transportation and handling. The number of intact cadavers or dissected cadavers in each cargo van ranged from 4 to 13 bodies. Sample collection times associated with cadaver transportation and handling tasks ranged from 15 to 216 min per sample with formaldehyde concentrations up to 1.6 ppm. Median exposure levels during cadaver transportation tasks were (1) 1.4 ppm (intact room temperature cadavers); (2) 0.13 ppm (dissected room temperature cadavers); and (3) 0.018 ppm (intact cooled cadavers). The median exposure during cadaver handling (loading/unloading) was 0.05 ppm. The 8-hr time-weighted averages during cadaver transportation and handling ranged from 0.030 ppm (intact cooled cadavers and dissected room temperature cadavers) to 0.51 ppm (intact room temperature cadavers, and dissected room temperature cadavers), the latter of which exceeded the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists recommended time-weighted average threshold limit value of 0.1 ppm. It is recommended that cadavers be transported cooled, however not all facilities may have access to or utilize specialized cadaver storage such as a walk-in cooler. Therefore, alternate exposure prevention approaches should also be identified and implemented.

摘要

在防腐（尸体保存）过程中，职业暴露于已知的致癌物质甲醛已被充分证明。尸体可能会被借用运送到大学，以在人体解剖学课程中培训医学专业人员。然而，与尸体运输相关的职业甲醛暴露水平以前尚未公布。因此，当前的试点研究检查了此过程中的甲醛暴露情况。保存完好的尸体（室温或冷却）在来源（借出）实验室装入货车，开到目的地（借用）实验室，然后卸下。解剖的尸体（室温）被捡起并装入目的地实验室的货车，然后开到源实验室并在那里卸下。在从事尸体运输和处理的员工呼吸区采集甲醛样本。每辆货车中完整尸体或解剖尸体的数量从 4 到 13 具不等。与尸体运输和处理任务相关的样本收集时间为每个样本 15 到 216 分钟，甲醛浓度高达 1.6 ppm。尸体运输任务期间的平均暴露水平为 (1) 1.4 ppm（完整的室温尸体）；(2) 0.13 ppm（解剖的室温尸体）；(3) 0.018 ppm（完整冷却的尸体）。尸体处理（装载/卸载）期间的暴露中位数为 0.05 ppm。尸体运输和处理期间的 8 小时时间加权平均值范围从 0.030 ppm（完整冷却的尸体和解剖的室温尸体）到 0。51 ppm（完整的室温尸体和解剖的室温尸体），后者超过了美国政府工业卫生学家会议推荐的时间加权平均阈值限值 0.1 ppm。建议运输尸体时冷却，但并非所有设施都可以使用或使用专门的尸体储存室，例如步入式冷却器。因此，还应确定和实施替代的暴露预防方法。然而，并非所有设施都可以访问或使用专门的尸体存放处，例如步入式冷藏箱。因此，还应确定和实施替代的暴露预防方法。然而，并非所有设施都可以访问或使用专门的尸体存放处，例如步入式冷藏箱。因此，还应确定和实施替代的暴露预防方法。