Medical students at Dalhousie University in Halifax won’t be learning anatomy by working with cadavers this year after the laboratory was shut down over failed 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 results showed that formaldehyde levels no longer meet provincial standards.
The school attempted to fix the problem through changes to the ventilation system, but it failed a second round of tests.
“We understand that these changes have raised important questions, some that we do not have answers to at this time,” wrote Dr. David Anderson.
“We are currently looking for ongoing advice from occupational health and medical experts.”
Dalhousie University declined an interview request.
Formaldehyde is a common, colourless and pungent chemical that can cause irritation of 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 that Nova Scotia follows a threshold set by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.
This was the first time formaldehyde was tested in a decade, he said. When the tests were done this summer, Dalhousie discovered that Nova Scotia had lowered the acceptable level in 2017.
Those regulations allow 0.1 parts per million, whereas the former threshold was 0.3 ppm.
Anderson did not explain why Dal had not conducted tests in 10 years, nor did he reveal the exact results.
“Although our test results are no longer compliant within Nova Scotia, our current testing levels at the Tupper Building laboratory are compliant with the previous allowable thresholds in Nova Scotia and the current allowable thresholds in New Brunswick,” he wrote.
Dalhousie has now stopped work with specimens at all three medical school locations: Halifax, Cape Breton and Saint John.
Air quality testing is underway in the Saint John lab.
Dalhousie said medical students will be learning anatomy this year by watching videos and using skeletal material and anatomical models.
Anderson said the different approaches will still meet learning objectives.
He said they’re also investigating long-term solutions including a renovation to the lab, or using specimens that are preserved with lower amounts of formaldehyde.
The Nova Scotia government said it’s aware of the problem, but it’s up to Dalhousie University to handle the situation.
Dalhousie said its human donation program will continue to accept donations from across the Maritimes while it determines what happens next.
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