ROLE OF QUALITY CONTROL MEASURES IN REDUCING FORMALDEHYDE EXPOSURE IN THE PATHOLOGY LABORATORY | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Occupational Medicine | ||
| Article 2, Volume 46, Issue 2, May 2022, Pages 21-36 PDF (772.05 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejom.2022.237266 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Shehata RA* ; Mohammed RS | ||
| Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Introduction: Formaldehyde (FA) compound is a widely used chemical for tissue preservation in medical histopathology laboratories despite being a probable human carcinogen and potent irritant. The threshold limit values of air formaldehyde at the workplace determined by the Occupational Health and Safety (OSHA) organization is 0.75ppm. Aim of Work: To reduce indoor air formaldehyde levels at the Pathology laboratory of Kasr Al Ainy hospital to near OSHA permissible levels; as to minimize health hazards among laboratory healthcare workers. Materials and Methods: An Interventional Quasi-experimental study using Formaldemeter (Part Per Million Humidity Temperature Vapor (PPM HTV) apparatus for environmental assessment of formaldehyde levels before intervention, 6months and 18 months after intervention, quality control tools were used for risk assessment and action plan intervention, to change laboratory ( Lab) environment to the safer workplace through separation of each stage in the lab into 4 stations each had separate ventilation and exhaustion system beside health education of the laboratory workers. Results: Median values of environmental Formaldehyde level were higher than recommended permissible level of OSHA at all stages of the work process in the pathology laboratory which was reduced to nearly half after the quality control intervention. There was a statistically significant difference in temperature and humidity between before and after the intervention, the number of airconditioners and exhaust devices were statistically significant predictors and affecting factors for environmental FA levels in the lab. Conclusion and Recommendations: Risk assessment and use of quality control tools to improve the indoor air quality of pathology laboratory at Kasr Al Ainy hospitals have reduced the environmental Formaldehyde level to nearly half readings of that before quality intervention after 6 months. Quality control measures include improvement of ventilation systems and work practices at pathology laboratories with continuous monitoring and maintenance should be applied to reduce health hazards among laboratory workers. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Air Formaldehyde level; Pathology laboratory; Quality control; Ventilation system | ||
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