Dalhousie halts cadaver training after unsafe formaldehyde levels detected in its Halifax anatomy lab. Students to learn anatomy through digital models.
Dalhousie Anatomy Lab Shuttered After Air Test Failure
Dalhousie University has suspended all cadaver-based anatomy teaching after its Halifax lab failed air quality tests showing formaldehyde levels above provincial safety limits. The closure affects medical students for the entire 2025–26 academic year.
Air Quality Tests Trigger Immediate Closure
The anatomy lab, located in Dalhousie’s Tupper Building, underwent testing this summer for the first time in a decade. Results revealed formaldehyde concentrations exceeding Nova Scotia’s allowable threshold of 0.1 parts per million. Efforts to correct ventilation and retest the facility were unsuccessful, prompting the immediate shutdown.
Medical Students Shift to Alternative Learning Tools
As a result, medical students will not train with human cadavers this year. Instead, instruction will rely on videos, skeletal models, and digital simulations. Faculty of Medicine Dean Dr. David Anderson assured students the adapted curriculum will still meet national accreditation and learning standards.
New Provincial Standards Tighten Exposure Limits
Nova Scotia adopted the lower exposure limit in 2017, reducing the acceptable level from 0.3 ppm to 0.1 ppm, aligning with updated international health guidelines. Dalhousie’s previous air quality checks had met the older benchmark, but the new rules render current readings non-compliant.
University Faces Questions Over Decade-Long Testing Gap
In his letter to students, Dr. Anderson acknowledged that this was the first formaldehyde test conducted in ten years. He did not explain the delay or share specific data from the tests but noted that the levels remain within limits previously accepted in both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The university declined interview requests from reporters.
Expanded Suspension Across Maritime Campuses
Dalhousie has also halted specimen work at its medical training sites in Cape Breton and Saint John, where further air quality testing is ongoing. The institution emphasized that the safety of staff and students remains its top priority.
Future Options Under Review
To resolve the issue, Dalhousie is considering a full renovation of its anatomy facilities or the adoption of preservation techniques using reduced-formaldehyde solutions. The university’s human body donation program will continue to accept donations from across the Maritimes while plans for remediation are developed.
Provincial Oversight and Next Steps
The Nova Scotia government confirmed awareness of the issue but said management rests with the university. Occupational health experts have been consulted to guide Dalhousie’s compliance strategy, ensuring future lab operations meet all air safety standards.
