[Histonet] RE: Xylene Substitutes[Scanned]

Mon Jun 20 17:53:03 CDT 2005

Well, stated and the rules we should live by.  Unfortunately many of the 
people most concerned about the effects of the chemicals only read a 
warning label not the MSDS for full safety usage of the chemical (in the 
lab) or cleaner in the home, where only the label is available.  We hear 
stories about how people have had really bad reactions to chemicals without 
knowing the whole story and then everyone panics.  We need to be aware of 
what we are using and how to use it safely then some of the dangers will be 
handled by correct practice not fear of contamination.  The use of 
chemicals in histology will not change and some things just work better - I 
use xylene and will continue to under a hood or in a well ventilated area 
as we all should.  (Remember the old days when no one even had a hood and 
even the pathologist would wash the paraffin  off their hands with 
xylene.  That was before we went too far the other way.)

Personally I am allergic to the d-limoene based clearants and can't even be 
in the room with them.  However, I also have a problem with citrus if I 
over do it in my diet.  These two problems are related and yet most people 
hear I can't stand the orange stuff and assume the problem is the only the 
chemical in the lab when in fact it is a problem in my daily life 
too.  Don't use any orange or citrus based stuff anywhere due to this so 
all labels for cleaners are a must read for me.  They should be for everyone.

Pam Marcum

At 10:35 AM 6/20/2005, Rittman, Barry R wrote:
>I must in general agree with Chuck. I have not used any clearing agents
>that I consider to be as good as xylenes.
>
>I think that we are now in an era where the pendulum has swung away from
>an almost total disregard for the use of chemicals to an era where we
>are sometimes overly cautious. This is not just with chemicals but many
>aspects in life.
>While it is critical to be very careful in the use of all chemicals and
>various practices (in the lab and at home)there is a point beyond which
>we would never work in a lab in case we absorbed some chemical or even
>leave the house in case we might get hit by a falling piece from an
>aircraft.
>When training in a lab we were taught to be aware of potential dangers
>from chemicals, equipment and especially trainees. Safe practices should
>not only be confined to the lab but should be a way of life for us all.
>After all we are exposed to enough pollution without our adding to it.
>If you cut your grass are you careful about not breathing exhaust fumes
>or getting gasoline on your hands? It seems at times as if we are trying
>to eliminate nature including us).
>Does this mean that we should not be using chemicals to clean ovens, to
>scrub sinks or to bleach clothes? I suggest that there is an acceptable
>limit to all these substances and practices but in order be realistic we
>always make ourselves fully aware of possible consequences of use.
>I make such decisions every day that I drive in Houston.
>Barry
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of
>Charles.Embrey
>Sent: Monday, June 20, 2005 8:24 AM
>To: Rogerson Kemlo (ELHT) Pathology
>Cc: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>Subject: RE: [Histonet] RE: Xylene Substitutes[Scanned]
>
>Kemlo,  There is an acceptable limit to water ingestion.  If you go past
>that it becomes toxic and even fatal.  Sorry, I'm not going to stop
>drinking water just because at some point it becomes toxic.  Many of
>these "warnings" in the lab boil down to junk science.  I just can't
>take the "Henny Penny" approach to things and run around screaming "The
>sky is falling, the sky is falling".  (My apologies to those that don't
>understand this analogy).  Relax a little, life can be
>fun........................
>
>Chuck Embrey
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Rogerson
>Kemlo (ELHT) Pathology
>Sent: Monday, June 20, 2005 1:45 AM
>To: Barbara Stancel; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>Subject: RE: [Histonet] RE: Xylene Substitutes[Scanned]
>
>Acceptable limit????? Define an acceptable limit! There is no acceptable
>limit as far as I know, all exposure brings with it danger, but I
>concede there is a limit beneath which that danger is acceptable. But
>what are the unacceptable elements of this acceptability? Only 1 in a
>1,000 women has a spontaneous abortions and I suppose that may be
>acceptable.
>
>Complete removal and replacement or extraction that results in zero
>exposure is acceptable, isn't it?
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Barbara Stancel [mailto:stancelb <@t> msn.com]
>Sent: 18 June 2005 20:03
>To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>Subject: [Histonet] RE: Xylene Substitutes[Scanned]
>
>I'm with Charles.
>
>We have been using xylene for 31 years. We have tried the xylene
>substitutes, but we and our pathologist prefer xylene. We recycle all
>the
>xylene to reduce cost of purchasing and cut hazardous waste. We have
>great
>ventilation in the lab. Our twice-a-year STEL monitoring has come back
>at
>way below the acceptable limits.
>
>If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
>
>
>Barbara Stancel
>USDA, FSIS, OPHS, EL, Pathology
>Athens, Georgia
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Charles.Embrey
>Sent: Friday, June 17, 2005 1:40 PM
>To: 'Joyce Cline'
>Subject: RE: [Histonet] Xylene substitutes
>
>Your quote "They all realize how bad Xylene is". Just how bad IS xylene?
>I have been using it for 25 years and am still alive and kicking.  We
>recycle ours so we don't even have an environmental issue to deal with.
>I have never used any substitute that worked as well or better than
>xylene itself.  Many claim to be almost as good as xylene and that is
>about as close as any get.  As for me, I am sticking with what works.
>
>Charles Embrey PA(ASCP)
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Joyce
>Cline
>Sent: Friday, June 17, 2005 12:05 PM
>To: 'Histonet'
>Subject: [Histonet] Xylene substitutes
>
>I use Clear-rite 3 and our pathologists have no problem with it. They
>all realize how bad Xylene is. I use H-2 Blue beads to help eliminate
>the water from our high humidity.
>
>
>
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Thanks,

Pam Marcum 