Determining the Effectiveness of the Ventilation System in an Anatomy Lab using ISO 16000-8

Dissection laboratories should have effective ventilation always. This study aimedto determine the effectiveness of the ventilation system in a dissection labratory. Based on ISO 16000-8 using tracer gas decay method, the effectiveness of a ventilationsystem operating at 4 different modes including 1)exhaust system is “on”, 2) supply system is “on”, 3) both systemsare “on”,4 both systems are “off” in a dissection lab was evaluated. Tracer gas (SF6) was injected into dissectionlab,air sampling was conducted in five zones of the lab. The air samples were then transferred to the laboratoryand their concentration was determined. Finally, the Local mean age (LMA),Room mean age of air (RMA)and the rate of local,general exhaust ventilation were calculated. Ethical issues relatet to human bodies wasconsidered in the research protochol. Two-way analysis of variances showed that while the LMA,the local rate of ventilation at differentventilating modes had no significant, the effect of ventilating mode on the RMA,general ventilation rate, wassignificant (P <0.001). One-way ANOVA test showed that the exhaust system had the greatest effect on RMA andgeneral ventilation rate of the room. According to the results, the ventilation is more effective when the supply,exhaust systems are “on”together considering the toxicity of formaldehyde, in addition to the general exhaust ventilation, the implementationof a local exhaust ventilation system for each mortuary desk is recommended.