Background: Formaldehyde and xylene are two hazardous chemicals widely used in pathology laboratories all over the world. The aim of this work was to survey a large volume pathology lab, measuring exposure of workers and residents to formaldehyde and xylene, and verify the efficacy of the undertaken preventive actions and the accomplishment with occupational limit values. Methods: Environmental, personal, and biological monitoring of exposure to formaldehyde and xylene in different lab rooms and in 29 lab attendants was repeated yearly from 2017 to 2020. Continuous monitoring of airborne formaldehyde was performed to evaluate the pattern of airborne concentrations while specific tasks were performed. Several risk management and mitigation measures, including setting a new grossing room, reducing the number of samples to be soaked in formaldehyde, and improving the lab practices and equipment, such as the use of chemical hoods, were undertaken after each monitoring campaign, based on the results obtained from the exposure monitoring. Results: Significant exposures to formaldehyde in pathologists and residents, especially during the grossing of samples, were observed in the first 2 years, with exposure exceeding the occupational exposure limit value; the following surveys showed that the risk management and mitigation measures were effective in reducing airborne concentrations and personal exposure. Xylene, assessed with both environmental and biological monitoring, was always well below the occupational exposure limit value and biological limit values, respectively. Conclusion: Critical exposure to air formaldehyde in attendants of a pathology laboratory could be reduced with the re-organization of lab spaces, new and improved work procedures, and awareness and training initiatives.

Exposure and Management of the Health Risk for the Use of Formaldehyde and Xylene in a Large Pathology Laboratory / S. Fustinoni, L. Campo, A. Spinazz(`(e)), F. Milena Cribi(`(u)), L. Chiappa, A. Sapino, R. Mercadante, L. Olgiati, L. Boniardi, D. Maria Cavallo, L. Riboldi, S. FERRERO BOGETTO, F.L. Boggio. - In: ANNALS OF WORK EXPOSURES AND HEALTH. - ISSN 2398-7308. - 65:7(2021), pp. 805-818. [10.1093/annweh/wxaa141]

Exposure and Management of the Health Risk for the Use of Formaldehyde and Xylene in a Large Pathology Laboratory

S. Fustinoni
;
L. Campo;R. Mercadante;L. Boniardi;S. FERRERO BOGETTO;F.L. Boggio
2021

Abstract

Background: Formaldehyde and xylene are two hazardous chemicals widely used in pathology laboratories all over the world. The aim of this work was to survey a large volume pathology lab, measuring exposure of workers and residents to formaldehyde and xylene, and verify the efficacy of the undertaken preventive actions and the accomplishment with occupational limit values. Methods: Environmental, personal, and biological monitoring of exposure to formaldehyde and xylene in different lab rooms and in 29 lab attendants was repeated yearly from 2017 to 2020. Continuous monitoring of airborne formaldehyde was performed to evaluate the pattern of airborne concentrations while specific tasks were performed. Several risk management and mitigation measures, including setting a new grossing room, reducing the number of samples to be soaked in formaldehyde, and improving the lab practices and equipment, such as the use of chemical hoods, were undertaken after each monitoring campaign, based on the results obtained from the exposure monitoring. Results: Significant exposures to formaldehyde in pathologists and residents, especially during the grossing of samples, were observed in the first 2 years, with exposure exceeding the occupational exposure limit value; the following surveys showed that the risk management and mitigation measures were effective in reducing airborne concentrations and personal exposure. Xylene, assessed with both environmental and biological monitoring, was always well below the occupational exposure limit value and biological limit values, respectively. Conclusion: Critical exposure to air formaldehyde in attendants of a pathology laboratory could be reduced with the re-organization of lab spaces, new and improved work procedures, and awareness and training initiatives.
chemical hazard; formaldehyde; pathology laboratory; prevention; xylenes
Settore MED/44 - Medicina del Lavoro
2021
Article (author)
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
wxaa141.pdf

accesso riservato

Tipologia: Publisher's version/PDF
Dimensione 864.15 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
864.15 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
Fustinoni main document.pdf

Open Access dal 06/08/2022

Tipologia: Post-print, accepted manuscript ecc. (versione accettata dall'editore)
Dimensione 172.62 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
172.62 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/859805
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 1
  • Scopus 10
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 6
social impact