摘要：It is well known that a photocatalyst can decompose low molecular weight organic compounds effectively under ultraviolet radiation. Recently, a rutile type of photocatalyst has been invented which is effective under visible light. This is a photocatalyst with fine particles of semiconductive rutile titanium dioxide supporting ultra-fine particles of platinum. When a fluorescent lamp is coated with this photocatalyst, a rutilic photocatalyst fluorescent lamp is created. The evaporation of formaldehyde from cadavers can produce high levels of exposure to formaldehyde vapor among students and instructors during anatomical dissection courses. The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has recommended that formaldehyde concentration in dissection laboratories be reduced. It is anticipated that the rutile type of photocatalyst will reduce the amount of gaseous formaldehyde in the air of laboratories. In order to assess the degree to which formaldehyde vapor concentration is reduced by the rutilic photocatalyst fluorescent lamp, we performed a reference examination using a conventional fluorescent lamp and the rutilic photocatalyst fluorescent lamp in a preparation room for an anatomical dissection. The volume of air in the room was 199m3 and the ventilation rate was 25 air exchanges per hour. When the photocatalyst fluorescent lamp was turned on, formaldehyde concentration in the air was lower than when the conventional fluorescent lamp was on. The reduction was statistically significant (p<0.05) when concentrations were measured at the time of dissection. It has been estimated that the rutilic photocatalyst fluorescent lamp is able to decompose about two grams of the gaseous formaldehyde generated during cadaver dissection per day. In addition, frequent air exchanges using the ventilation system would have been effective in helping to reduce formaldehyde concentration in the room.
