| Document ID (ISN) | 53725 |
| CIS number |
90-946 |
| ISSN - Serial title |
0003-9896 - Archives of Environmental Health |
| Year |
1989 |
| Convention or series no. |
|
| Author(s) |
Holness D.L., Nethercott J.R. |
| Title |
Health status of funeral service workers exposed to formaldehyde |
| Bibliographic information |
July-Aug. 1989, Vol.44, No.4, p.222-228. 46 ref. |
| Abstract |
A study of 84 funeral service workers and 38 control subjects in Toronto, Canada, revealed that the embalmers reported chronic bronchitis, dyspnoea, and nasal, eye, and skin irritation more frequently than controls. Apprentices reported symptoms and exhibited signs of irritation more frequently than experienced embalmers, but both of these groups were more affected than the inactive embalmers or the controls. Airborne formaldehyde levels were 0.36ppm during 22 embalming procedures. General ventilation was shown to lower the levels significantly. No significant change in forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec, FEF50 or FEF75 was demonstrated with formaldehyde exposure nor were the baseline lung function results significantly different from the controls. Based on patch testing, 4% and 10% were sensitive to formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde, respectively, whereas none of the controls exhibited positive reactions. |
| Descriptors (primary) |
formaldehyde; funeral services; embalming |
| Descriptors (secondary) |
exposure evaluation; Canada |
| Document type |
D - Periodical articles |
| Subject(s) |
Other industries and occupations
|
| Broad subject area(s) |
Chemical safety
|
| Browse category(ies) |
Aldehydes
Funeral services
|
