[Histonet] Xylene sensitivity

[Rene J Buesa]

Shelley:
As you correctly think this employee is most likely sensitive to xylene. Having a filtration system is the wrong solution.
Is like having a pain when you use your arm and immobilizing it to prevent the pain.
Your long term and complete solution is to eliminate xylene from your lab and I mean from ALL tasks using it now.
Under separate cover I am sending 2 publications explaining how to do that.
René J.

--- On Tue, 9/27/11, D'Attilio, Shelley <SDattili <@t> stormontvail.org> wrote:


From: D'Attilio, Shelley <SDattili <@t> stormontvail.org>
Subject: [Histonet] Xylene sensitivity
To: "Histonet Listserv (E-mail)" <histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Date: Tuesday, September 27, 2011, 9:27 AM


Hi all,
I have a new employee who is developing a scratchy, painful throat and some difficulty breathing when exposed to xylene (for instance, when the cover is raised on the coverslipper).  This is her first job in a lab of any sort.  We are investigating all the usual culprits--air handling system, hoods, allergies or virus unrelated to histology, etc.  Right now she is wearing a PAPR to work, which is obviously not a long-term solution.  Ultimately, I think we will conclude that this employee has a sensitivity to xylene and possibly other chemicals in the histology lab, as other employees are not complaining about symptoms related to chemicals.

Does anyone have any experience with activated charcoal air cleaners?  I am looking at a portable unit that sits on casters and provides 4 air exchanges per hour.  It's not cheap at $1000, but well worth it if it will provide relief for this employee and allow her to continue her employment.  Our lab is approximately 800-1000 sq. ft in size with 8 foot ceilings.  We have 1 standard bio-hood for processing cytology fluids and 2 wall-mounted "air suckers" above our processors.  I am open to any suggestions.

Thanks,

Shelley D'Attilio MT(ASCP)
Manager, Chemistry, Cytology and Histology
Dept. of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Stormont-Vail HealthCare
Topeka, Kansas




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