Assessment of exfoliated nasal mucosa cells among morticians exposed to formaldehyde in Benin City, Nigeria

Ebojele FO; Aihie EO

doi:10.61386/imj.v18i2.664

Authors

Ebojele FO Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
Aihie EO Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61386/imj.v18i2.664

Keywords:

formaldehyde, cytology, nasal mucosa, exfoliated, morticians

Abstract

Background: Exfoliated nasal mucosa cells were studied among morticians exposed to formaldehyde in Benin City, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: 50 subjects were divided into five groups A,B,C,D and E according to their duration (in years) of exposure with 10 subjects in each group. Group A served as control with nil exposure while groups B,C,D and E served as the test groups with 0-5 years, 6-10 years, 11-20 years, and > 20years exposures respectively. Anthropometric parameters of subjects were measured and cytology of exfoliated nasal epithelia cells was done. Statistical analysis was done using GraphPad prism version 5.0 and p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results: Results showed infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells and progressive increase in nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio (N-C ratio) with exposure duration.

Conclusion: It was therefore concluded that exposure to formaldehyde for a prolonged period could have cytotoxic effect on the respiratory tract among morticians.