FORMALDEHYDE AND PHENOL EXPOSURE DURING AN ANATOMY DISSECTION COURSE - A POSSIBLE SOURCE OF IGE-MEDIATED SENSITIZATION

The sensitizing potency of formaldehyde and phenol exposure during 4 w eeks of an anatomy dissection course was assessed in 45 medical studen ts. Specific IgE against formaldehyde by RAST and by ELISA and specifi c IgE against phenol by ELISA were assessed before and after the cours e. At the start of the course, symptoms, type I allergy, respiratory d iseases, and smoking habits were noted. At the end of the course, only symptoms experienced during the dissection lessons were assessed. Ind oor formaldehyde levels were measured continuously. The mean indoor fo rmaldehyde level was 0.124+/-0.05 ppm, with a minimum of 0.059 ppm and a maximum of 0.219 ppm. Specific IgE against formaldehyde or phenol w as found in none of the subjects at the beginning of the course, and n o student showed specific IgE against formaldehyde or phenol after the course. Assessment of primarily irritant symptoms during the lessons revealed itch and paraesthesia of hands in 33/45 students (P<0.00005), headache in 15/45 students, burning eyes in 13/45 students (P<0.02), dizziness in 8/45 students (P<0.008), sneezing in 4/45 students, epist axis in 2/45 students, and shortness of breath in 1/45 students. Accor ding to our data, 1-month exposure to formaldehyde and phenol during a n anatomy dissection course does not induce specific IgE against forma ldehyde or phenol.