Formaldehyde use reduction in mortuaries

38 Pages·1994·1.8 MB·English

by  Mao, Chengchen

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TOXICS USE REDUCTION INSTITUTE
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Technical Report No. 24 1994
University ofMassachusetts Lowell

Formaldehyde Use Reduction
in Mortuaries
Chengchen Mao
Sc.D Candidate, Work Environment Department
Professor Susan Woskie
Work Environment Department
University of Massachusetts Lowell
The 1993 - 1994 Toxics Use Reduction Research Fellows Program
The Toxics Use Reduction Institute
University of Massachusetts Lowell
1994
All rights to this report belong to the Toxics Use Reduction Institute. The
material may be duplicated with permissionby contacting the Institute.
The Toxics Use Reduction Institute is a multi-disciplinary research, education,
and policy center established by the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act of
1989. The Institute sponsors and conducts research, organizes education and
training programs, and provides technical support to promote the reduction in
the use oftoxic chemicals or the generation oftoxic chemical byproducts in
industry and commerce. Further information can be obtained by writing the
Toxics Use Reduction Institute, University ofMassachusetts Lowell, One
University Avenue, Lx)well, Massachusetts 01854.
®Toxics Use Reduction Institute, University ofMassachusetts Lowell

Toxics Use Reduction Institute
Research Fellows Program
In 1991, the Toxics Use Reduction Institute established the Research Fellows Program at the
University of Massachusetts Lx)well (UML). The Research Fellows Program funds toxics use
reduction projects performed by a graduate student and his/her advisor. The goals of the
Research Fellows Program are:
• to develop technologies, materials, processes, and methods for implementing toxics use
reduction techniques
UML
• to develop an understanding of toxics use reduction among graduate students and
faculty
UML
• to facilitate the integration ofthe concept oftoxics use reduction into research
projects
UML
to provide faculty with "incubator" funding for toxics use reduction related
research, and
UML
• to act as a liaison between Massachusetts industries and faculty.
Notice
This report has been reviewed by the Institute and approved for publication. Approval does
not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Toxics Use
Reduction Institute, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute
endorsement or recommendation for use.
Digitized by the Internet Archive
2015
in
https://archive.org/details/fornnaldehydeuserOOnnaoc
FORMALDEHYDE USE REDUCTION IN MORTUARIES
ABSTRACT
Funeral services may be seen as the final phase ofthe health care system in human
society. The history ofembalming, or preserving human bodies, goes back to 4000 B.C. The use
offormaldehyde for fixation and preservation of the body for funeral services has had
widespread use since its tissue-hardening properties were discovered in 1893. In 1993, there
were 960 funeral homes distributed throughout the Commonwealth ofMassachusetts, which
were staffed with 2,400 licensed morticians. It is estimated that approximately 249,920 gallons
ofembalming fluids containing approximately 180,163 pounds (26,492 gallons) offormaldehyde
are consumed each year by mortuaries in this state. The embalmers are exposed to formaldehyde
and its polymers during the course oftheir work. The options for toxics use reduction (TUR) of
formaldehyde in funeral services should include modification ofsocietal behavior, changes in
state legislation to allow the elimination ofunnecessary embalming, and the use ofembalming
fluids with lower concentrations of formaldehyde. In addition, an embalming fluid where
formaldehyde has been replaced by an ethyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol combination is a
potential alternative for mortuaries to consider.
1

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT
1
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
I. 3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
II. 4
Phase I. Scope and definition ofthe problem 4
Phase II. Identification ofToxic Use Reduction Options 4
RESULTS OF LITERATURE SEARCHES
III 5
.
Health Effects ofFormaldehyde 5
Occupational Exposure in Funeral Services 9
Historical Profile ofthe Practice ofEmbalming in Funeral Service 10
IV. EMBALMING PROCESS DESCRIPTION 13
Procedures and Processes ofEmbalming 13
Estimation ofFacilities and Working Population 14
V. OPTIONS FOR FORMALDEHYDE USE REDUCTION 15
Modification ofSocietal Behavior and Legislative Changes 15
Alternate Technologies for Preservation ofthe Human Body 16
Substitution or Reduction ofFormaldehyde Use in Embalming 17
Minimization of Formaldehyde Release 19
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
VI. 19
BIBLIOGRAPHY
21
2