Interestingly, a study reported in New Scientist some
years ago, described the bacteriocidal nature of
wooden kitchen cut boards and compared them with
plastic. They found that the total bacteria counts
after 24 hours was a lot less with wood than with
plastic. It seems that wood exudes natural
bacteriocides that is quite effective in killing
microbe spores.

Just my two cents worth!!
Tony

--- Lee & Peggy Wenk  wrote:
> I don't think there is an "official" regulation that
> forbids the use of cork
> boards.
> 
> However, for us, switching from cork boards to the
> "plastic" boards was a
> matter of trying to reduce the levels of formalin
> vapors to which our PAs
> and Residents are exposed, and to ensure their
> safety for things
> biohazardous.
> 
> Cork is porous, so it absorbs the formalin fluid.
> This fluid then
> out-gasses.
> 
> Cork absorbs other fluids, like body/cell fluid,
> which if fresh, is
> biohazardous. A quick scrub down with diluted bleach
> could not guarantee
> that all the micro-organisms inside the board were
> killed.
> 
> So, in a round about way, switching to the "plastic"
> boards was influenced
> by the following standards:
> - Chemical Hygiene Standard (reduce exposure to all
> chemicals)
> - Formaldehyde Standards (reduce exposure to
> formaldehyde)
> - Blood borne Pathogen Standard (reduce exposure to
> pathogens)
> 
> That was our reasoning. Hope it helps you in your
> decision.
> 
> Peggy A. Wenk, HTL(ASCP)SLS
> William Beaumont Hospital
> Royal Oak, MI 48073
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Carmen Badley" 
> To: 
> Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2002 11:39 AM
> Subject: cork cutting boards
> 
> 
> Does anyone know if there is a CAP or JCACHO
> regulation forbidding Cork cutting boards used for
> grossing?  I was told sometime in the past that
> there
> was.  Please let me know.  Thank you.
> 
> Carmen Badley; HT Sr. Tech
> St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, MI
> 
> __________________________________________________
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> 
>  

=====
Tony Henwood JP BAppSc GradDipSysAnaly CT(ASC)
Laboratory Manager
Histopathology Department
The Childrens Hospital at Westmead
Locked Bag 4001 WESTMEAD, 2145 Australia. http://www.histosearch.com/homepages/TonyHenwood/default.html
http://us.geocities.com/tonyhenwoodau/index.html

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