[Histonet] Formalin on skin

[Jackie M O'Connor]

Formaldehyde was a common ingredient of shampoos, and I remember reading 
the ingredients (with horror) on a bottle of Mr. Bubble bubble bath for 
kids (like 25 years ago).    If you remember "Good Morning Vietnam" - they 
mentioned using formaldehyde to produce a better head on a glass of beer 
from the tap.
I once worked with a pathologist who was allergic to formaldehyde.  When 
he did the gross, we had to rinse all the specimens in H20 before he could 
examine them - yeah, that was fun.
Jackie O'




"Chris Pomajzl" <cpomajzl <@t> cpllabs.com> 
Sent by: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
05/23/2006 01:51 PM

To
"HISTONET" <histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
cc

Subject
Re: [Histonet] Formalin on skin






I would imagine that if someone had open wounds or breaks in the skin, 
there
could be acute problems. But chronic long-term problems are unlikely with
such a brief incident.

People drink formaldehyde (or at least used to, wasn't it a preservative 
in
beer many years ago??), they smoke it (I've heard of people dipping joints
in formaldehyde for a stronger buzz, never tried it myself), and we 
breathe
it in the lab every day. I believe that the carcinogenic effects are due 
to
long-term exposure in laboratory animals. I am not aware of any studies
involving human subjects.

Hope this helps.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Charles.Embrey" <Charles.Embrey <@t> carle.com>
To: <gu.lang <@t> gmx.at>; "Histonetliste (Histonetliste)"
<histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 12:56 PM
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Formalin on skin


You are 100% correct.  I have even reached a bare hand into formalin to
pull out something before but washed with soap and water minutes after.
I have not personally heard of formalin causing an increased risk of
skin cancer however I am sure that there is a study somewhere that has
probably associated some risk with L---O---N---G term exposure. Your
labassistant should be perfectly safe.  Just don't drink it and keep it
out of the eyes :)

Charles Embrey Jr. PA(ASCP)
www.greyrealm.com

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Gudrun
Lang
Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 12:32 PM
To: Histonetliste (Histonetliste)
Subject: [Histonet] Formalin on skin

Hi,
Today a labassistent asked me, what would happen to her skin, if
formalin
swallowed over her arm.
I said, the formalin would harden the skin, but only on the surface. She
should wash the arm with plenty of water, and there will reamain no
negative
reaction. It would not be dangerous for her health.

Do you agree with me? Is there a cancer-risk after short contact with
formalin?

Greetings
Gudrun Lang

Histolab
Akh Linz
Austria


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