[Histonet] Formaldehyde in H2S's 12th RoC

[Robert Richmond]

The US Department of Health and Human Services (sometimes
affectionately known as H2S) has released the 12th Report on
Carcinogens (RoC). The report lists formaldehyde as a definite human
carcinogen. The regulatory repercussions of this aren't immediately
clear, but I suspect pathologists will see increasing pressure to
eliminate formaldehyde fixation. As the snake oil peddlers come out of
the woodwork, it's going to become increasingly important to remember
that there is no substitute for formaldehyde that will not greatly
change the way pathologists and histologists work.

A not entirely satisfactory New York Times account is at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/11/health/11cancer.html?hp

The report itself can be obtained in pieces in PDF form at:
http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/?objectid=72016262-BDB7-CEBA-FA60E922B18C2540

The 12th RoC reports repeat the mantra "studies show" at Joyce
Brothers length, but do not really make clear what the facts are. They
do offer these references about mortality among embalmers and
pathologists. Does anyone on the list have access to these papers?

Hauptmann M, Lubin JH, Stewart PA, Hayes RB, Blair A. 2003. Mortality
from lymphohematopoietic
malignancies among workers in formaldehyde industries. J Natl Cancer
Inst 95(21): 1615-1623.
Hauptmann M, Lubin JH, Stewart PA, Hayes RB, Blair A. 2004. Mortality
from solid cancers among workers
in formaldehyde industries. Am J Epidemiol 159(12): 1117-1130.
Hauptmann M, Stewart PA, Lubin JH, Beane Freeman LE, Hornung RW,
Herrick RF, et al. 2009. Mortality
from lymphohematopoietic malignancies and brain cancer among embalmers
exposed to formaldehyde.
J Natl Cancer Inst 101(24): 1696-1708.

Posting this both to PATHO-L and to Histonet.

Bob Richmond
Samurai Pathologist
Knoxville TN