The influence of environmental exposure to formaldehyde in nasal mucosa of medical students during cadaver dissection.

Background: Environmental exposure to formaldehyde is commonly associated with clinical symptoms such as mucosal irritation and olfactory disorders. However, the impact of such exposure on the development of mucosal inflammation and its outcome has not been carefully evaluated.

Methods: The observational non-comparative study was planned. The study population consisted of group of 41 medical students who had signed up for a cadaver dissection course as part of their gross anatomy teaching at the school of medicine Chiba University in Japan. During such dissection course, the students are exposed to variable levels of environmental formaldehyde routinely employed for the preservation the cadavers. The subjects were evaluated by a detailed medical examination. We measured their serum IgE levels. In addition, an olfaction test and nasal mucosal sensitivity to histamine was serially determined, immediately before and after the course and 6 months after the completion of the course.

Results: Olfactory abnormalities were observed in 13/41 (32%) subjects and increased nasal mucosal hypersensitivity to histamine was observed in 17/41 (41%) during and immediately after completion of the course. These subjects had evidence of preexisting allergic rhinitis. 6/41 (15%) other students with no prior evidence of allergic rhinitis also exhibited formaldehyde associated clinical symptoms during the dissecting course. However, the symptoms disappeared upon completion of the course in all subjects studied.

Conclusions: Temporary abnormalities in the olfaction test and increased nasal mucosal hypersensitivity to histamine were observed in a few students with preexisting allergic rhinitis after environmental exposure of high concentrations of formaldehyde. These effects appeared to be transient.