In anatomical preservation, low formaldehyde concentrations are recommended because of the carcinogenic potential of formaldehyde. However, in big basins with a varying number of bodies inside it may be difficult to estimate the formaldehyde concentration. Here, a feasible titration method, i.e. iodometry, was described to measure formaldehyde concentrations in anatomical preservation tanks. This method was compared to head-space mass spectrometry-. Results of triplet measurements of the iodometry were coherent and fitted to nominal formaldehyde concentrations. The formaldehyde concentrations in the preservation tanks were found to be in the anticipated ranges between 2 % and 4 %. Therefore, an estimation of the formaldehyde concentration in preservation tanks is possible using the described quick and cost-effective method.

Formaldehyde concentration

Tank

Basin

Embalmment

Measurement

Titration

Mass spectrometry

© 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier GmbH.