The preservation of bodies has been around for thousands of years. When one thinks back to where everything all started they would most likely think about the Egyptians and the rituals they used back then. As the years go by, human preservation has changed drastically. In this day in age, there are many different methods used to embalm. Some artificial methods are refrigeration, plastination, and conventional method of embalming. (Ajileye)
This is where different embalming fluids that can be mixed for an artificial embalming come into play. Formalin, phenol, methylated spirit, glycerin, and water. (Ajileye) These are all of the basic chemicals used in the process. One solution that is used the most would be Formalin. Formalin is a solution that is made of up formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a gas, it turns into formalin when it is mixed with water. The gas and water combination will polymerize if it is not mixed with methyl alcohol. The use of formaldehyde is said to be harmful to a living being’s health due to the fact that it is a strong gas. To what extent will formaldehyde damage one’s health and could the use of these chemicals be changed for a healthier work environment?
The procedure of embalming starts with disposing of all body hair. Next, the natural openings are to be cleaned with water and soap. “The embalming fluid was perfused via cannulated common carotid artery within 60–70 min (150 mL/min.) at room temperature. In addition, 1 l of MLS was injected into the abdominal cavity. Nasal and oral cavities and external auditory canal were filled with MLS (mean 200–250 mL). On an average, for a body weighing 80 kg, 11,200 mL fluid was used in total. The fluid distribution was accelerated with extremity movements and surface massages during perfusion” (Bilge) When it comes to embalming, formaldehyde is most common because of the final product. It brings color and elasticity back into the skin. Most of the time embalmers will dye the solution with a red colorant to make the skin appear pink. ( Chiappelli) It also rids the body of decomposition and order for a period of time. This is most convenient for the funeral service. A body will be transported to the funeral service, at times the body travels a long way. For an open casket, the body will look more lively.
What exactly does formaldehyde do to a body? In a journal written by Noha Selim Mohamed Elshaer, and Madiha Awad Elsayed Mahmoud, they investigated the effects of medical students that were exposed to formalin. “The most frequently reported symptoms by medical students were unpleasant smell(91.2%), itching in the eyes (81.3%), and excessive lacrimation (76.1%). Majority of them reported duration of relief within one hour (>80%), and more than two thirds reported wearing laboratory coats and hand gloves. Formalin-exposed staff reported symptoms of skin disorders as drying (75%), eczema (68.8%), and allergic contact dermatitis (87.5%), besides, eye irritation (68.8%), respiratory tract irritation (93.8%), and work-related bronchial asthma (53.3%). ” The strength that this gas has is the reason most embalmers will work in heavy ventilated areas. Formaldehyde is most commonly passed through airborne exposure. (Chiappelli)
“In June 2004, the International Agency for Research on Cancer upgraded formaldehyde from a probable human carcinogen to a known human carcinogen (International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2004). Based on animal and human reactions, they have proposed an air quality standard of 0.1 mg/ m³ (roughly .1 parts per million [ppm]) and a drinking water standard of 900 µg/liter. A World Health Organization study (WHO, 2002) found that formaldehyde acts as an irritant at low levels of exposure. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA, 2008) has placed formaldehyde on its list of toxic chemicals with a permissible exposure limit of 0.75 ppm over the course of an eight-hour workday. If formaldehyde levels exceed this, a warning must be posted which says, in part, “irritant and potential cancer hazard.” A 1998 publication by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health states that embalmers are exposed to an average of 9 ppm while embalming. At levels between 10 ppm and 20 ppm, formaldehyde causes more severe symptoms; at levels of between 50 ppm and 100 ppm, it causes fluid on the lungs and death.” (Chiappelli)
The gas is spread throughout multiple places. Besides airborne, it stays in the crematorium or ends up in the dirt. “The National Cancer Institute has reported that exposure to formaldehyde increases the risks of brain cancer and leukemia and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has listed formaldehyde as a probable carcinogen since 1987 (Welton, 2003). U.S. EPA also regulates formaldehyde as a hazardous waste. Embalming manufacturers also recognize the occupational danger of formaldehyde (Bedino, 2004). High formaldehyde exposure makes embalmers more susceptible to chronic bronchitis and eye and skin irritation. A number of studies have found “that embalmers are at significantly greater risk than the general populace of getting cancers of the skin, brain, colon, sinuses, nose, throat and blood, kidney failure, arteriosclerotic heart disease, chromosomal damage, and cirrhosis of the liver (Iserson, 1994).” Crematory workers were found to have slightly elevated risks for some diseases that formaldehyde is also known to cause.” (Chiappelli)
Alternatives for embalming are universal. There are multiple chemicals that could be used as an alternative for formaldehyde. “NVP is a monomeric precursor of PVP, a water‐soluble synthetic polymer used for cosmetics, drug tablets, contact lenses, adhesives, inkjet printing, absorbable surgical thread, and tissue engineering scaffolding (Haaf et al., 1985). We invented a novel tissue fixation method using NVP.” (Haizuka) As improvements go on in the scientific field, more chemical combinations will arise. The NVP method was said to keep the mobility in the joints of the deceased bodies. This proves that other methods of the solutions that were used are effective. The print also stated that the NVP method showed no sign of decomposition and fungus in the span of two years.
In conclusion, formaldehyde is harmful to the body. There are multiple chemicals that can be used as a better alternative for human embalmment. Also, there are multiple ways people embalm. With scientific and medical finds constantly rising the embalming process will be easier to do with years to come.