TO STUDY THE EFFECT OF EXPOSURE TO FORMALDEHYDE IN DISSECTION HALL ON PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS OF 1ST YEAR MBBS STUDENTS

Introduction: 1st year M.B.B.S. students are exposed to Formaldehyde, used as a component of embalming mixture for Anatomy Dissection classes and to preserve organ specimen. Formaldehyde is known to cause irritation of respiratory tract and causes inflammation, mediators released like histamine, serotonin cause contraction of smooth muscle of bronchi. Lung Function Tests such as FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC % are used to analyze respiratory health since they are reliable indices that aid in early detection of pulmonary disorders. Materials and Methods: The effect of formaldehyde (due to exposure to formalin) with respect to 3 parameters (FVC, FEV1 & FEV1/FVC%) of Pulmonary Function Tests among 150 healthy first year M.B.B.S. students aged 17 to 23 years (72 Females, 78 Males) was studied in the Physiology Department of Government Medical College, Patiala from December 2022 to December 2023. Spirometry was performed at the beginning of the session (before the start of anatomy dissection or classes on preserved organ specimen) to get the pre-exposure (0 month) values of FVC, FEV1 & FEV1/FVC% and then followed-up after 1, 5 & 9 months of exposure. Results: Although the range of data and means (both pre- and post-exposure) remained within physiological limits, MAXIMUM REDUCTION of mean with shift of the entire range of data was observed AT 1 MONTH OF EXPOSURE (along with an increase in the no. of students in “HIGH RISK” category & a decrease in “SAFE” category), w.r.t. all 3 PFT parameters. Thereafter, some amount of tolerance was observed, PFT parameters progressively increasing after 5 months & 9 months of exposure (along with a decrease in the no. of students in “HIGH RISK” category & an increase in “SAFE” category), though still not fully returning back to pre-exposure level till 9 months, w.r.t. all 3 PFT parameters studied. Conclusion: In this study, we found statistically significant effect of inhalation of formaldehyde vapours on Pulmonary Function Tests (FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC %) of 150 healthy subjects studying in 1st year MBBS (aged 17 to 23 years) due to exposure to formalin during Anatomy Dissection and classes on preserved organ specimen. Although the range of data and means (both pre- and post-exposure) remained within physiological limits, the general trend in our study shows maximum reduction of mean with deviation of the entire range of data at 1 month of exposure. Thereafter, the trend showed some amount of tolerance progressively after 5 months & amp; 9 months of exposure, but still not fully returning back to pre-exposure level till 9 months, having a statistically highly significant difference w.r.t. all 3 PFT parameters studied (FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC%), before exposure vs after 1, 5 & amp; 9 months of exposure to formaldehyde among females as well as males.