Occupational exposure to formaldehyde in anatomy and pathology laboratories: di...

• Author(s): Viegas, Susana ; Ladeira, Carina ; Nunes, Carla ; Malta-Vacas, Joana ; Gomes, Mário ; Brito, Miguel ; Mendonça, Paula ; Prista, João
• Date: 2010
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.21/1040
• Origin: Repositório Científico do Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa
• Subject(s): Saúde ambiental; Saúde ocupacional; Formaldeído; Meio laboratorial; Anatomia patológica
• Document Type: Conference Object
• Language: English

Description

Formaldehyde, also known as formalin, formal and methyl aldehydes, is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling gas. It has an important application in embalming tissues and that result in exposures for workers in the pathology anatomy laboratories and mortuaries. To perform exposure assessment is necessary define exposure groups and in this occupational setting the technicians and pathologists are the most important groups. In the case of formaldehyde, it seems that health effects are more related with peak exposures than with exposure duration.