Formaldehyde Levels and the Indoor Air Quality of an Anatomy Dissection Hall with Different Ventilation Setups

During anatomy dissection, the release of formaldehyde (FA) from cadavers and embalming fluids can negatively affect the well-being of students and staff. The exposure of students, staff, and technicians to FA in the dissection hall is a concern. To address this issue, a study measured the FA and air quality (CO₂ and Total Volatile Organic Compounds- TVOC) with different ventilation setups: natural, fan-based, and air-conditioned. The FA levels and the indoor air quality at the breathing zone were estimated using an air conditioning (AC), fan-based, and naturally ventilated setup. The FA, CO₂, and TVOC levels were calculated at the cadavers’ head and toe ends, in the pathway, and between the dissection tables. The FA, CO₂, and TVOC levels were higher near the cadaver and lower in the pathway and between the tables, regardless of the type of ventilation used. Fan-based ventilation had the lowest mean FA, CO₂, and TVOC levels compared to AC and natural ventilation. However, there was no significant difference in these levels between the ventilation types, except for the toe-ends of the cadavers (P <.05), where the toe-end farther from the AC vents had higher levels. The study suggests that areas away from the source of ventilation in the anatomy dissection hall are at risk of having lower air quality. Therefore, in addition to selecting an appropriate ventilation system, placing the donor bodies near the source of ventilation would help optimize FA levels and improve indoor air quality for better working conditions suitable for students and staff.