Effects of Occupational Exposure to Formaldehyde: Allergenic, Genotoxic, and Mutagenic

Safia Bechir Ahmed1, Amal Saad Eldin1, and Sherif Baathallah2

1 Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt
2 Genetic Unit, Child Hospital, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

Corresponding author: Dr. Safia Bechir Ahmed
    Asst. Prof. of Environmental Health
    Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine National Research Center
    Cairo, Egypt
    Fax number: 00202-3370931
    E-mail: khadigasalah@yahoo.com

CEJOEM 2006, Vol.12. No.3.: 145–158

Key words:
PFT, specific IgE to FA, chromosomal aberrations, DNA-protein crosslinks, p53, occupational formaldehyde exposure

Abstract:
A relatively large number of workers are being exposed to formaldehyde because of its wide-spread use. To reveal whether prolonged or repeated formaldehyde exposure can induce human health hazards as allergenic, genotoxic, and mutagenic effects, a study of 48 exposed employees (of anatomy and pathology departments) was undertaken using the yield of ventilatory pulmonary function tests, specific IgE to formaldehyde-human serum albumin (HSA), chromosomal aberrations, DNA–protein cross links in peripheral blood lymphocytes and serum p53. Chronic occupational formaldehyde exposure appeared to be associated with an increase in the prevalence of the respiratory and eye symptoms. The mean values of FEV1, and FVC in percent of the predicted values were significantly lower in the exposed workers than in the controls. At the same time, the mean levels of DNA-protein crosslinks and the mean frequency of mitomycin C-induced chromosomal breakage were significantly higher in the exposed group compared to the controls. There was no significant difference between the both groups in the mean values of PEFR%, specific IgE to formaldehyde-HSA, serum p53, and the mean frequency of spontaneous chromosomal breakage. Unexpectedly, no obvious correlation was seen between either the duration of employment, smoking index, or other parameters analysed. The study confirms the hazardous effect of formaldehyde vapour on the health of exposed workers and calls for establishing protective measures for them.

Received: 16 March 2006
Accepted: 3 January 2007
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