Yeungnam Univ J Med.  2016 Dec;33(2):85-89. 10.12701/yujm.2016.33.2.85.

The effect of formaldehyde on neurobehavioral performance of student during cadaver dissection

• Sakong Y
• Jo HY
• Lee IG
• Lee KS
• Jun MJ

• KMID: 2366117
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2016.33.2.85

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Formaldehyde is used to preserve cadaver in medical schools, and students are exposed to formaldehyde during cadaver dissection classes. When humans are exposed to formaldehyde, it induces mucosal inflammation, skin inflammation, and declining of neurobehavioral function including attention and memory executive functions. The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of formaldehyde exposure on student's neurobehavioral performance during cadaver dissection classes.
METHODS
The level of formaldehyde was measured in a cadaver dissection class. A total of 16 students were randomly divided into two groups. One group wore respiratory protection masks, while the other group did not. Among many subtests in Korean Computerized Neurobehavioral test, backward digit span was tested on all subjects before and after the class.
RESULTS
The length of memorized digit span between the two groups was not significant; however there was a greater decrease in neurobehavioral function after formaldehyde exposure in the non-mask group than the mask group.
CONCLUSION
Formaldehyde exposure during cadaver dissection may likely decrease neurobehavioral performance of students. Therefore, proper ventilation system and respiratory protective equipment are necessary to protect medical school students from adverse effects of formaldehyde exposure.

Keyword

Formaldehyde; Neurobehavioral; Dissection

MeSH Terms

Cadaver*
Executive Function
Formaldehyde*
Humans
Inflammation
Masks
Memory
Schools, Medical
Skin
Ventilation
Formaldehyde