Formalin exposure associated symptoms and adherence to personal protective equipment correlation in anatomy laboratory

Formaldehyde, released from formalin-treated cadavers, poses serious health risks, including toxicity, allergenic reactions, and carcinogenic effects, which are often overlooked due to limited awareness. This study aimed to assess formalin exposure-related symptoms and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) among medical students in the anatomy lab at Batterjee Medical College (BMC), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 349 students using a self-administered questionnaire. Data collected included sociodemographic variables, health habits, safety orientation, time spent in the anatomy lab, symptoms experienced during exposure to formalin-treated cadavers, and PPE usage. Reported symptoms were primarily eye-related, such as tearing, itching, and redness, followed by nasal issues like runny nose and breathing difficulties. The majority of students adhered to wearing lab coats, gloves, and face masks during lab sessions. Female students reported more symptoms than males, and higher-level students (M2 and M3) experienced more symptoms than first-year students (M1). Interestingly, students who spent more time in the lab reported fewer symptoms. These findings highlight the need for mandatory PPE usage to reduce the adverse health effects associated with formalin exposure in anatomy labs. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of BMC.