FW: [Histonet] Re: Formaldehyde - Carcinogen?

[Horn, Hazel V]

Histotechs have a high exposure to formalin as well and all of the
deceased techs I know of died from cancer.  Could be coincidental and
lifestyle choices besides 
work related exposure would have to be considered.

Hazel Horn
Hazel Horn, HT/HTL (ASCP)
Supervisor of Histology
Arkansas Children's Hospital
800 Marshall    Slot 820
Little Rock, AR   72202

phone   501.364.4240
fax        501.364.3912

visit us on the web at:    www.archildrens.org

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Robert
Richmond
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:16 PM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Re: Formaldehyde - Carcinogen?

Beth A. Fye at HCA Richmond [Virginia?] Hospital Laboratories asks:

>>In 2006, the IARC [International Agency for Research on Cancer]
changed formaldehyde from a Group 2a - Probable Carcinogen to a Group
I Carcinogenic to Humans.  Has this changed... any  procedures within
[your] Histology Laboratory?<<

See
http://www.iarc.fr/ENG/Press_Releases/archives/pr153a.html
I never heard of them, but I don't think the IARC is a regulatory
agency - rather they're a subsidiary of the WHO (World Health
Organization) based in France.

Pathologists (at least this pathologist) have a very high lifetime
exposure to formaldehyde. The AMA (American Medical Association)
tracks the causes of death of American physicians very carefully. To
date there has been no information published to suggest that
pathologists' causes of death are different from those of other
American physicians.

I'm sure that the herrn inschpektors will soon be belaboring us with
this IARC report, but I don't think there's any new evidence - or if
there is, I wish the IARC or somebody would publish it.

Bob Richmond
well pickled samurai pathologist
Knoxville TN

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