Dalhousie’s anatomy lab closed due to formaldehyde levels

Medical students at Dalhousie University in Halifax will not learn anatomy by working with cadavers this year after the lab was closed after failing air quality tests.

In a lengthy letter to students, the dean of the Faculty of Medicine said the anatomy lab in the Tupper Building was tested over the summer and the results showed that formaldehyde levels no longer met provincial standards.

The school attempted to fix the problem through changes to the ventilation system, but it failed a second round of testing.

Dr. David Anderson wrote, “We recognize that these changes raise important questions, some to which we do not have answers at this time.”

“We are currently seeking continued advice from occupational health and medical experts.”

Dalhousie University declined an interview request.

Formaldehyde is a common, colorless and pungent chemical that can irritate the eyes, nose and throat even at very low levels. It is a known carcinogen that is commonly used as a preservative and disinfectant. Formaldehyde can also be released in smoke and exhaust from cigarettes, fireplaces, and vehicles.

In his letter to students, Anderson said Nova Scotia follows limits set by the American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists.

It was the first time formaldehyde was tested in a decade, he said. When tests were conducted this summer, Dalhousie found that Nova Scotia had fallen short of acceptable levels in 2017.

Those rules allow 0.1 parts per million, whereas the previous limit was 0.3 ppm.

Anderson did not explain why the team had not conducted tests in 10 years, nor did he provide the exact results.

“Although our testing results are no longer in line with those in Nova Scotia, our current testing levels at the Tupper Building laboratory are in line with the previous acceptable limits in Nova Scotia and the current acceptable limits in New Brunswick,” he wrote.

Dalhousie has now stopped working with samples at all three medical school locations: Halifax, Cape Breton and St. John’s.

Air quality testing underway at St. John’s Lab.

Dalhousie said medical students this year will learn anatomy by watching videos and using skeletal material and anatomical models.

Anderson said different approaches will still meet learning objectives.

He said they are also investigating long-term solutions that include refurbishing the laboratory, or using samples preserved with lower amounts of formaldehyde.

The Nova Scotia government said it is aware of the problem, but it is up to Dalhousie University to handle the situation.

Dalhousie said its human donation program will continue to accept donations from the Maritimes while it determines what to do next.

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