Formaldehyde Exposure at a Mortuary Science Embalming Laboratory – Ohio

Details

• Journal Article:
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  In October 1979, a health hazard evaluation was conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) at an embalming laboratory at an Ohio college of mortuary science to determine if chemicals used during embalming operations were presenting a potential exposure problem. The request was prompted by the early-disability retirement of a 30-year-old embalming instructor, who had developed asthmatic bronchitis after 5 years of laboratory exposure. Medical histories of 4 instructors who were working in the laboratory at the time of the investigation revealed that all gave positive histories of allergy. All were exposed to embalming fluids consisting of formaldehyde, phenol, unspecified preservatives, ketone, and ester solvents. This exposure was on a daily basis for periods ranging from 3 to 12 years. All noted symptoms of burning eyes and nose, dryness of mouth and throat, cough, headache, and lacrimation while using these chemicals. To evaluate environmental exposures, air samples were taken for phenol and formaldehyde determination during a 2-day period. On the first day, when a greater-than-usual number of bodies were embalmed, the ventilation system was not in operation (not an unusual condition), and airborne contaminants accumulated. The second day's embalmings were performed while the exhaust system was in operation. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Asthma Butanones Education Environmental Exposure Esters Formaldehyde Hazardous Substances Hypersensitivity Laboratories Occupational Health Phenol Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Solvents Ventilation Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Allergies Author Keywords: HHE-70-146-670 Bronchial Asthma Chemical Hazards Embalming Exposure Assessment Exposure Levels Exposure Limits Hazardous Materials Ketones Laboratory Techniques Laboratory Workers Medical Sciences Preservatives Recommended Exposure Limits RELs Respiratory System Disorders Sampling Teaching Work Environment Work Performance Work Practices

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• Series:
  Weekly Report: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• ISSN:
  0149-2195 (print) ; 1545-861X (digital)
• Publisher:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (U.S.)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  4 pdf pages
• Volume:
  29
• Issue:
  33
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20054814
• Citation:
  MMWR 1980 Aug; 29(33):395-396,401
• CAS Registry Number:
  Formaldehyde (CAS RN 50-00-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1980
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9b0f64bb07baaa45ab6f6b62621a6a68e36ddb993d0fefbf36e4464c5fce2d4283ce05b60d24ad523d2c65209f7083c647e4e59dfd24df8f9f9ea6ca4a352fa3
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/183119/cdc_183119_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 410.17 KB ]