Toxic effects of embalming fluid on medical students and professionals

Vapours of embalming fluid in the dissection room are a perennial cause of irritation to the mucous membranes of the pharynx, upper respiratory tract and eyes. We made an attempt to assess the discomfort level produced by formalin and that produced by the standardized embalming fluid used in our department.

A list of twenty symptoms was made and circulated among students attending dissection and students were asked to grade the severity of each symptom experienced on a scale of 1 to 4. Individual scores of each symptom were statistically compared and summated, and the same reflected the general acceptability of the embalming fluid.