Mortuary staff in the United Kingdom faced hazardous exposure to elevated levels of chemicals from the bodies of individuals involved in the Air India plane crash, as per findings by a coroner. The incident occurred on June 12 when Air India Flight 171 bound for London Gatwick tragically crashed into a building shortly after departing, resulting in the loss of 260 lives, including 53 British citizens.
Prior to the official inquiries into the fatalities, a report from the coroner highlighted that the bodies of the repatriated British victims stored at Westminster Public Mortuary had been immersed in significant concentrations of formalin, a substance commonly utilized for preserving human remains, albeit containing formaldehyde.
Dr. Fiona Wilcox, the coroner, expressed concerns over the formalin posing a notable chemical risk to the mortuary personnel. She emphasized that many staff members seemed unaware and taken aback by the potential dangers associated with formalin exposure, indicating a lack of awareness among mortuary facilities regarding the health risks posed by the substance.
Additionally, the report revealed alarming levels of carbon monoxide and cyanide within the mortuary premises, as reported by My London. Dr. Wilcox cautioned that formalin exposure could lead to severe respiratory complications, labeling it as a volatile and carcinogenic substance known to trigger conditions such as acute myeloid leukemia and other toxic effects, including metabolic acidosis, bronchospasm, pulmonary edema, and fatality.