RT - Journal TY - JOUR A1 - Dhar, Dipak A1 - Chaudhuri, Sudeepa T1 - A study to evaluate ventilatory derangements of 1st year medical students on exposure to formaldehyde by assessing forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity ratio YR - 2021/1/1 JF - International Journal of Health & Allied Sciences JO - Int J Health Allied Sci SP - 31 OP - 35 VO - 10 IS - 1 UL - https://www.ijhas.in/article.asp?issn=2278-344X;year=2021;volume=10;issue=1;spage=31;epage=35;aulast=Dhar;t=5 DO - 10.4103/ijhas.IJHAS_68_20 N2 - BACKGROUND: A doctor experiences various occupational hazards. One of them is exposure to formaldehyde during gross anatomy dissection classes. Since it vaporizes at room temperature, the respiratory system is easily affected. The present study was undertaken to assess the ventilatory derangements that occur on this exposure. METHODS: The spirometric parameter, forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio, was recorded in 80 medical students using spirometer RMS Helios 401. Percent-predicated values were used for analysis. The baseline values were recorded at the beginning of the academic calendar and followed up at the end of the 1st, 6th, and 10th months. RESULTS: The overall mean FEV1/FVC ratio declined over the study period though not markedly but was statistically significant (P = 0.004). Restrictive and mixed patterns were predominantly seen, but the number decreased with time. CONCLUSIONS: Formaldehyde causes detrimental effects on the ventilatory dynamics. ER -