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Health risk assessment of exposure to formaldehyde in dental materials

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Central European Journal of Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the study was to evaluate the health status and to assess the risk of adverse health effects among dental professionals occupationally exposed to formaldehyde in dental materials.

Methods

A questionnaire survey was carried out with 78 participants: 30 occupationally exposed to formaldehyde as dental professionals and 48 non-exposed healthy referents. All participants were clinically examined, including a review of the participant’s medical history. Skin patch testing with formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde was performed.

Results

A significantly increased incidence and relative risk of manifestation of subjective symptoms from the upper respiratory tract, respiratory system and the skin were established in the group of occupationally exposed dental professionals. No significantly increased incidence of suppressed resistance to upper respiratory tract infectious diseases as a possible immunotoxic effect of formaldehyde was established by studying occupational exposure. Occupationally induced contact allergy to formaldehyde was found to have a significantly higher incidence and relative risk among dental professionals. A significantly higher prevalence of sensitization among women was observed.

Conclusions

The study documented well the irritant and skin-sensitizing effect of formaldehyde in materials used in dental practice; the results suggest a stronger skin-sensitizing potential of formaldehyde compared with glutaraldehyde.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department ”Hygiene, Medical Ecology and Nutrition”, Medical University, Medical Faculty, 15 Blvd “Acad. Ivan Evstr. Geshov”, 1431, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Maya Lyapina

  2. Department “Oral and Image Diagnostic”, Medical University, Faculty of Dental Medicine, 1 Blvd “St G. Sofiiski”, 1431, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Assya Krasteva, Maria Dencheva, Mariana Tzekova & Angelina Kisselova-Yaneva

  3. Institute for legal studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 4 “Serdica” str, 1000, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Mariela Deliverska

Authors
  1. Maya Lyapina
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  2. Assya Krasteva
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  3. Maria Dencheva
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  4. Mariana Tzekova
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  5. Mariela Deliverska
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  6. Angelina Kisselova-Yaneva
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Correspondence to Maya Lyapina.

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Lyapina, M., Krasteva, A., Dencheva, M. et al. Health risk assessment of exposure to formaldehyde in dental materials. cent.eur.j.med 9, 332–338 (2014). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11536-013-0264-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11536-013-0264-4

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