Study on occupational exposure to formaldehyde in workers preparing corpses in funeral homes in Guatemala City
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54495/Rev.Cientifica.v19i2.156Keywords:
Formaldehyde, toxic effect, exposition, mortuary, dermatological sign and symptoms, corpses preparationAbstract
The formaldehyde its consider to be a high risk substance, chcmic that belongs to the aldehids (the simplest compound of this family) its highly volatile and very flammable, the chemical formula is H2CO3 and its usage without personal protection can be harmful to the persons health. Since much years ago its consider, to be the
classic human tissue conserven to preserve corpses until they're buried. The common technique for doing this is an 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 hes who work at mortuarys preserving and preparing corpses, if they are in contact with this substance for long periods of time and inadequate protection measures. This work evaluated the exposure of several mortuary workers to formaldehyde in Guatemala City. There were 28 mortuary workers that are exposed to formaldehyde that worked
in the 12 mortuaries in Guatemala City. We studied several toxic effects produced by formaldehyde in the 28
workers that were exposed 3.6 hours dairy for an average period of 11 years, who where ah men in rhe ages of 19 to 56 years. The signs and symptoms of formaldehyde exposure on the mortuary workers were recovered with a stencil 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 people who had a high level of exposure 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%), ocular conjunctiva irritation (67.9%). dry mouth (67.9%), hypoalgesia (diminish capacity to sense stimuli) (50%). The age, prolonged periods of w'ork. less usage of protection equipment, seemed to make more frequently the appearance of signs and symptoms, but the frequency of conjunctiva irritation was higher on new workers that had less exposure to formaldehyde. The mortuaries in evaluation look some measures to control the exposure to formaldehyde of their workers but it was insufficient to avoid manifesting intoxication on some workers.
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