Document ID (ISN) | 104777 |
CIS number |
06-354 |
ISSN - Serial title |
1047-322X - Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene |
Year |
2003 |
Convention or series no. |
|
Author(s) |
Ryan T.J., Burroughs G.E., Taylor K., Kovein R.J. |
Title |
Video exposure assessments demonstrate excessive laboratory formaldehyde exposures |
Bibliographic information |
June 2003, Vol.18, No.6, p.450-457. Illus. 29 ref. |
Abstract |
Following frequent complaints about room air quality in an anatomy laboratory using formaldehyde-preserved animals, formaldehyde concentrations were measured using a photo-ionization detector with an integral data logger and videotapes of laboratory tasks were recorded simultaneously. Use of this video monitoring method revealed very short-lived, excessively high peak exposure events, whereas conventional time-weighted averages indicated that the majority of personal exposures were below the OSHA limit of 0.75ppm. Transient peak formaldehyde concentrations could be responsible for the self-reported health effects (burning nose and eyes and eye irritation). Close dissection work, opening peritoneal cavities, and specimen selection activities were most likely the causes of elevated student exposures. Teaching assistants' exposures were the highest, exceeding OSHA limits on several occasions. |
Descriptors (primary) |
formaldehyde; cinematographic methods of detection; exposure evaluation; laboratory work |
Descriptors (secondary) |
irritation; determination in air; symptoms |
Document type |
D - Periodical articles |
Country / State or Province | USA |
Subject(s) |
Toxic and dangerous substances
|
Broad subject area(s) |
Chemical safety
|
Browse category(ies) |
Aldehydes Exposure evaluation
|