formaldahyde

i am currently 6 months pregnant and i am studying nursing. i have to dissect a dead cat soon in my bio class. is it safe for me to do this? will it cause problems for my unborn?

[Lisa Kessler, MS, CGC]

Thank you for your question. It is always important to be thinking about how the environment can impact unborn children.

First, verify the preservative for the cat. Using proper personal safety equipment such as gloves, goggles, mask, lab coat, etc. (refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet that your lab class should provide) will minimize any exposure you have to formaldehyde or any other preservative.  

Formaldehyde is rapidly metabolized by humans and it is unlikely that any small exposure you might have from inhaling fumes would result in a high enough blood concentration to reach the reproductive system and cause any harm to your baby.

However, formaldehyde is a toxic substance and animal studies, which are often not reflective of human experience, show that fetal development of exposed animals could be compromised.   Therefore careful use of personal safety equipment is a must. I encourage you to talk to your teacher and read the Material Safety Data sheet on the safety equipment recommended. You can also get more detailed information through the Organization of Teratology Specialists (OTIS).

Best wishes to you in your nursing career.

[koester]

thank you very much for the info. i really did want to dissect the cat. i will discuss this with my teacher thanks.