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Previous by Date: Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Cadaver labs and formaldehyde Date: Monday, August 25, 2014 10:01:42 AM Author: Monona Rossol <actsnyc**At_Symbol_Here**cs.com> |
Next by Date: Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Cadaver labs and formaldehyde Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 11:29:47 -0400 Author: Monona Rossol |
Good point Monona, it is always wise to assess the hazards before embarking on a quest to substitute one chemical product for another.
Infutrace (and Perfect Solution) have been around for a while and so far the assessments are promising:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18058900
These are formaldehyde "replacements", and not plasticizers. I know very little about the plasticizers but if any of you do, please share.
W.
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU]On Behalf Of Monona Rossol
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2014 10:02 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Cadaver labs and formaldehyde
Well, I'm between trips so I haven't seen all of this thread, but I'm disappointed. If HOCH is replaced in anatomy labs, where is the information about the replacements?
I got the MSDS (2012) for Infutrace (Sasco Chemical) and it is proprietary, unregulated and untested for chronic toxicity. But that doesn't mean it doesn't have any chronic toxicity. I have a problem with exposing students to a large volume of an untested, unidentified chemical. And worse--it may be a plasticizer as suggested which means it's going right through those thin surgical gloves. And if it plasticizes a stiff, it can plasticize a live body as well.
The MSDS recommends Neoprene gloves, but there's no information on thickness, how long they should be used, etc. And usually students attacking a cadaver use thin surgical gloves.
I don't think we need to go into the many "safe" plasticizers that later have been found to be a big problem in even miniscule amounts. I don't understand how people can justify recommending a chemical product for a purpose like this without knowing what it is, what is known about it and, more importantly, what is NOT known about it.
A risk assessment is needed here.
Monona Rossol, M.S., M.F.A., Industrial Hygienist
President: Arts, Crafts & Theater Safety, Inc.
Safety Officer: Local USA829, IATSE
181 Thompson St., #23
New York, NY 10012 212-777-0062
-----Original Message-----
From: Wayne Wood <wayne.wood**At_Symbol_Here**MCGILL.CA>
To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Sent: Mon, Aug 25, 2014 9:05 am
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Cadaver labs and formaldehyde
See replies to john Nail's questions below: >A question for those of you who have cadaver labs - >Does a 'formaldehyde-free' embalming method for lab cadavers exist? Yes, but it is not a simple perfusion and involves the full immersion of the cadaver in a tank. Alternatively you can still embalm with formalin-based fluids but then you can replace them with Infutrace or plasticizer so that the cadavers have little or no HCHO in them when they are brought into the student lab. >If a university is building a cadaver lab, does the lab need to have specialized equipment that will remove airborne formaldehyde? If you have cadavers preserved in formalin you need a local exhaust system (e.g. downdraft dissection tables) to protect the students and instructors from exposure. The area where you prep the cadavers should have a top quality local exhaust system as the technicians who do this work are there for the long term and are at greatest risk of exposure. >Can the air in the lab be vented to outside the building without treatment? It depends on the concentration coming out the stack and what your local authorizes will allow but in my experience there will be so much air flowing through your exhaust system that the resultant effluent concentration may very well be below regulated levels. >Is there a legal (compliance or civil) reason to be monitoring for formaldehyde? In my jurisdiction we have to monitor annually, due to the fact HCHO has made its way onto the carcinogen list. As well, due diligence dictates that you need to have good monitoring data if ever you are challenged with any lawsuits. True story: in our case the availability of reliable exposure data saved us millions of dollars. W. >Many thanks for your replies, >John Nail>Professor of Chemistry>Oklahoma City University Wayne Wood, CIH | Associate Director, University Safety (EHS), University Services - Directeur Adjoint, Direction de la pre´vention (SSE), Services universitaires | McGill University | 3610 rue McTavish Street, 4th floor | Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 1Y2 | Tel: (514) 398-2391Previous post | Top of Page | Next post