Pulmonary effects of formaldehyde exposure--an environmental-epidemiological study.

A comparative study of effects of formaldehyde on respiratory system was carried out among systematically selected anatomy and histopathology department workers of three medical colleges of Vidarbha. A group of persons, not exposed to formaldehyde served as control group. Analysis of air samples revealed that the concentration of formaldehyde at study group work places was significantly more than the control group work places. The respiratory symptoms such as productive cough, breathlessness and tightness of chest were significantly more frequent among formaldehyde exposed persons. The lung function parameters showed a significant decrease among exposed as compared to non-exposed group.