From:
Nancy Carraway <000020898e9fd3e6-dmarc-request**At_Symbol_Here**LISTS.PRINCETON.EDU>
Subject:
Re: [DCHAS-L] Formaldehyde Exposure in Anatomy Teaching Labs
Date:
Apr 17, 2026 14:30 UTC
Reply-To:
ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID:
<1208289687.278351.1776436228054**At_Symbol_Here**mail.yahoo.com>
In-Reply-To:
<CH0PR11MB5491E3703C8A3BB806340FF1C7232**At_Symbol_Here**CH0PR11MB5491.namprd11.prod.outlook.com>
In a morgue in California, there was an intake for a filtered exhaust system at the end of each gurney that drew fumes emanating from each corpse away into a center collection system somewhere else in the building. This system was so effective in eliminating the formaldehyde vapors for workers handling the bodies that air samples collected in the vicinity of where the autopsies were being conducted did not register formaldehyde concentrations at all!
Nancy Carraway, CIH
626 676 7681
991 East California Boulevard
Pasadena, California 91106
On Friday, April 17, 2026 at 07:11:53 AM PDT, Chandra Man Karki <karki**At_Symbol_Here**uchicago.edu> wrote:
Hello Safety world,
I am reaching out to gather insight on how your institutions manage formaldehyde/formalin exposure in teaching laboratory settings, specifically anatomy or brain dissection labs.
Case Example: A teaching lab conducts brain dissections using specimens preserved
in approximately 10% formalin.
Do you have any institutional policies or guidance on managing exposures in this type of setting?
-Chandra
Chandra Man Karki, M.S.
Chemical Safety Officer (CSO)
Office of Research Safety, University of Chicago
researchsafety.uchicago.edu
920 E. 58th St, CLSC 145, Chicago, IL 60637
Office Ph: (773) 702-5907
“Safety isn’t expensive, it’s priceless”- Jerry Smith
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