Effect of formaldehyde in formalin-fixed specimen on Jasminum sambac plants

Abstract

Over the past few years, the issue of pollution from the grave is often taken into account and always become a study material and research. The most commonly used method for disposal of dead bodies and limbs is incineration. Incineration has been used for decades. Previously, biological specimen at the Hospital University of Sains Malaysia (HUSM) was disposed of through incinerators. Given that the majority of HUSM patients are Muslim societies, a method to dispose biological waste in an Islamic-compliant through burial method is proposed. In addition, incineration of dead bodies will have a bad impact on the environment and human health through the emission of toxic gases. New way has been introduced to overcome this problem by burial of formalin fixed specimen onto the soil. However, formalin preservation on specimen is a main concern. This study was done to determine the effect of the formaldehyde on the growth of the Jasminum sambac plant and the physical characteristic of the plant. The height of plant, surface area of leaf, number of leaves and flowers, colour of leaves and chlorophyll content of leaf were observed before and after the plants was treated with formaldehyde. The results obtained from this research will give valuable information on the effect of formaldehyde on the environment specifically on the plant. This study also determines whether the formalin fixed specimen by burial method give negative or positive effect to the environment. The physical characteristics of the plant after treated with formaldehyde shows a negative growth with decrease in number of leaves and flowers as well as in the surface area of leaf. Other than that, the colors of leaves changed from dark green to brownish color for the plants that treated with formaldehyde. In conclusion, formaldehyde application affected the plant and cause the physical characteristic of the plants does not grow well even with the lower concentration.