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Use of formalin for dissection purposes at the University of Copenhagen
In a TV documentary and podcast series from February 2026, the Danish TV channel DR looks into the chemical formalin in the dissection hall at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. This is where medical and dental students learn to dissect human bodies in their anatomy classes.
DR questions whether the use of formalin in the dissection hall may have led to four dissection supervisors developing cancer. They all worked in the dissection hall from 2006 to 2012. Three of the four dissection supervisors with cancer have since died of the disease.
The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (SUND) was first made aware of the cancer cases among the former supervisors by the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Bispebjerg Hospital in 2019. A study conducted by the Department concluded at the time that there was no link between the cancer cases and the former supervisors' dissection work.
On this site, you can find answers to how and why the University uses formalin to prepare bodies for use in anatomy classes for medical and dental students, and who to contact if you have any questions.
Using formalin in anatomy classes
Formalin is used to fix and preserve biological 'preparations', among other things. Preparations include bodies, body parts, tissue and organs from humans, animals and plants. Preservation is necessary if the material is to be stored and examined after collection. Formalin is an aqueous solution of formaldehyde.
At the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, formalin is used to preserve bodies donated to science and used in dissection classes for medical and dental students.
The dissection course, provided by the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM), is a key element of learning anatomy. Students acquire basic knowledge about the anatomic structure of the human body and how it can vary from person to person and does not always match textbook illustrations, which is important in their future encounters with patients.
On these courses, dissection supervisors work as assistant teaching staff. Dissection supervisors are usually older medical students holding a student job where they are present in the dissection hall for three to six hours at a time, four or eight days per semester. Some supervisors have the job for one semester, while others have it for several semesters.
In addition to dissection supervisors, many other staff members work in the dissection hall as instructors, product manufacturers and technical staff.
The key thing for UCPH is that students and staff feel safe and secure when studying or working
Until 2005, formalin was classified as a potential carcinogen, and from 2006, it has been classified as a carcinogen for nasopharyngeal cancer. In 2009, myeloid leukaemia (blood cancer) was included as a cancer that can be caused by formalin.
The authorities have imposed strict requirements on how to handle formalin and on the maximum concentrations we can be exposed to. UCPH continuously seeks to optimise conditions, and in 2005-2006, in particular, safety regulations were tightened in several areas.
Among other things, the donated bodies were rinsed out with alcohol, removing virtually all formalin before being used in the dissection room. In addition, the formaldehyde concentration in the embalming fluid has been lowered several times. As a result of these measures, exposure to formalin has been reduced to a very low level, significantly below applicable threshold values.
Before the start of the dissection course, students and dissection supervisors receive written and verbal safety instructions. In 2006, regular supervision by two senior course managers was introduced to ensure compliance with safety rules.
The Danish Working Environment Authority has conducted regular inspections, most recently in 2025, which did not result in any comments regarding the dissection hall.
Bente Stallknecht, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, says:
"I’m deeply affected by this issue. DR highlights a possible connection between the cancer cases and working in the dissection hall, as it is notable that people so young have developed – and died of – cancer.”
Bente Stallknecht continues:
Previous studies have shown no correlation. However, the DR broadcasts may – quite understandably – foster doubt and uncertainty among current and former students and staff. I take that very seriously. I will therefore initiate a supplementary investigation into the safety conditions in the dissection hall as soon as possible, with external assistance. We will also contact the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Department at Bispebjerg Hospital and the Danish Working Environment Authority to find out how the University of Copenhagen can best assist in any further efforts to shed light on the matter."
FAQ
Anatomy courses in medicine and dentistry
Learning about the anatomy and structure of the body in three dimensions is a key element of medical and dental programmes.
It gives students a spatial and realistic understanding of how close, for example, nerves, blood vessels and muscles are - and that bodies look different and often don't match textbooks. At UCPH, one of the ways they learn this is by dissecting, as in many other recognised medical programmes around the world.
Dissection supervisors are responsible for instructing and guiding students during dissection.
They are usually older medical students holding a student job where they are present in the dissection hall for three to six hours at a time, four or eight teaching days per semester.
Formalin is not handled in the dissection hall where students and dissection supervisors are present.
Formalin is used in the embalming process, which prepares bodies for dissection. Before the bodies are used in anatomy classes in the dissection hall, they are rinsed out with an alcohol solution that removes virtually all formalin. Exposure to formalin in the dissection hall is therefore very low and significantly below applicable threshold values.
There are alternatives to formalin, but none that allow for this spatial and realistic understanding of how close nerves, blood vessels and muscles lie - and that bodies look different and often don't match textbooks.
Other medical programmes use different methods, and UCPH is of course always open to and curious about alternatives and the latest research in the field. The current assessment is that students' need for practical dissection experience is of high importance and cannot be obtained by simply looking at an organ or body in a display case or virtually.
Safety in the dissection hall at Panum
We can never completely eliminate risk when working with chemicals in a laboratory. However, the level of formalin in dissection has been reduced to a minimum and safety precautions have been continually enhanced to keep exposure for students and staff very low and below applicable exposure thresholds. Since 2006, all relevant measurements have met the Danish Working Environment Authority's requirements, which have also been tightened regularly.
In addition, UCPH will initiate a supplementary investigation of the safety conditions in the dissection hall as soon as possible, with external assistance.
As a student, you don't have to worry about having had classes in the dissection hall. Medical and dental students do not handle formalin, but work with bodies that have been fixed in formalin and then rinsed with alcohol. This means that students' exposure is far below the threshold values for formalin.
Working in laboratories always carries a risk, which is why UCPH takes safety very seriously. The levels of formalin in the dissection hall are measured regularly, and since 2006, no measurements have exceeded the threshold values.
In addition, UCPH will initiate a supplementary investigation of the safety conditions in the dissection hall as soon as possible, with external assistance.
It is not for the University to conclude whether there is a connection. It is down to independent assessments done over the years. In 2019, the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Bispebjerg Hospital investigated the issue and found no connection between the cancer cases and working in the dissection hall.
They found that overall exposure to formalin in the dissection hall was moderate and acceptable when the former supervisors were exposed.
The Danish Working Environment Authority conducts regular inspections, most recently in 2025, when there was no cause for comment on the work in the dissection hall.
Since 2006, all relevant measurements have met the Danish Working Environment Authority's requirements, which have also been tightened regularly. Before 2006, the formalin threshold was exceeded, but since the safety improvements implemented by the ICMM department, measurements have been below the threshold. The measurements are made both by the department and by independent external firms.
The Danish Working Environment Authority conducts regular inspections, most recently in 2025, when there was no cause for comment on the work in the dissection hall.
With formalin classified as a carcinogen, there are strict requirements for handling and exposure. Over the years, ICMM has implemented several safety precautions to minimise the risk of exposure.
The department regularly has external measurements taken of formalin levels in the dissection hall and also measures them on an ongoing basis. Since 2006, all relevant measurements have met the Danish Working Environment Authority's requirements, which have also been tightened regularly.
In addition, there is a duty of instruction and inspection in the dissection hall. This means that course directors and donation scheme managers are responsible for safety. The course coordinators verbally emphasise the mandatory reading of the written instructions at the start of a dissection course, specifically highlighting the risks of working with formalin. Written and verbal instructions have been available since 2006.
Students: The student counselling office
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