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TOXICS USli REDUCTION INSTITUTE THE MASSACHUSETTS TOXICS USE REDUCTION INSTITUTE DOCUMENTS G^OVtRN^/ltNT OCT 2 V 1999 Massachus3tts linWe.3itV o< OepositorV E -Py FORMALDEHYDE USE REDUCTION MORTUARIES IN \ 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