Objective To investigate the pollution levels of formaldehyde and xylene in indoor air of pathology departments in selected general hospitals in Jinan City, and assess the cancer and non-cancer risks for the pathologists.
Methods Daily monitoring data about formaldehyde and xylene in indoor air were collected from pathology departments in six general hospitals in Jinan City from 2013 to 2016. The health risks for pathologists who worked in specimen collection rooms, slide making rooms, and diagnosis rooms of pathology departments were assessed by inhalation risk assessment model recommended by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Results A total of 160 formaldehyde samples were analyzed. The average concentrations of formaldehyde were 1.403, 0.172, and 0.129 mg/m3 in specimen collection rooms, slide making rooms, and diagnosis rooms, respectively. All the three workplaces had both non-cancer and cancer risks from formaldehyde exposure, for all the three hazard quotients (HQs) were greater than 1 and the caner risks (Risk) ranged from 1.07×10-4 to 11.67×10-4, exceeding the EPA threshold (1×10-6). Both the cancer and non-cancer risks for formaldehyde exposure had the highest values in specimen collection rooms. A total of 92 xylene samples were analyzed. The average concentrations of xylene were 0.259, 9.546, and 0.331 mg/m3 in specimen collection rooms, slide making rooms, and diagnosis rooms, respectively. The non-cancer occupational risk for xylene exposure had the highest value in slide making rooms (HQ=15.56), and were much lower in specimen collection rooms and diagnosis rooms (HQs < 1).
Conclusion Formaldehyde exposure induces both cancer risk and non-cancer risk for pathologists working in specimen collection rooms, slide making rooms, and diagnosis rooms of pathology departments in selected general hospitals in Jinan City. Xylene exposure induces a higher non-cancer risk in slide making rooms than in other rooms.
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