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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 ProvinceUSA
Subject(s) Toxic and dangerous substances
Broad subject area(s) Chemical safety
Browse category(ies) Aldehydes
Exposure evaluation