Study on occupational exposure to formaldehyde in workers preparing corpses in funeral homes in Guatemala City

Abstract

The formaldehyde its consider to be a high risk substance, chemic that belongs to the aldehids (the simplestcompound of this family) its highly volatile and very flammable, the chemical formula is H2CO3 and its usagewithout personal protection can be harmful to the persons health. Since much years ago its consider, to be theclassic human tissue conserven to preserve corpses until they're buried. The common technique for doing this isan intra-arterial injection of this liquid after draining rhe vain blood, together with the treatment of the big cavities(skull, thorax and abdomen) and their muscular masses. Light to severe damages can be caused to people's heswho work at mortuarys preserving andpreparing corpses, ifthey are in contact with this substance forlong periodsof time and inadequate protection measures. This work evaluated the exposure of several mortuary workers toformaldehyde in Guatemala City. There were 28 mortuary workers that are exposed to formaldehyde that workedin the 12 mortuaries in Guatemala City.Westudied several toxic effects produced by formaldehyde in the 28workers that were exposed 3.6 hours dairy for an average period of 1 1 years, who where ah men in rhe ages of19 to56years. The signs and symptoms offormaldehyde exposure on the mortuary workers were recoveredwithastencil made for this only purpose and completed with interviews and careful observation.The frequency of dermatologic signs and symptoms of the exposure to formaldehyde was found high for peoplewho had a high level ofexposure to formaldehyde for long periods of time. The most frequently signs where:dryness of skin (60.7%). thickening of the skin sense by direct contact (64,3%). throat irritation (71.4%). ocularconjunctiva irritation (67.9%). dry mouth (67.9%), hypoalgesia (diminish capacity to sense stimuli’) (50%).The age. prolonged periodsofw'ork. less usage of protection equipment, seemed to make more frequently theappearance of signs and symptoms, but the frequency of conjunctiva irritation was higher on newworkersthathad less exposure to formaldehyde. The mortuaries in evaluation look some measures to control the exposure toformaldehyde of their workers but it was insufficient to avoid manifesting intoxication on some workers