How can showing concerns for other peoples welfare be unfriendly?  Ummmm,
maybe by calling them IRRESPONSIBLE.

-----Original Message-----
From: sue hacker (IAH-C) [mailto:Sue.Hacker@bbsrc.ac.uk]
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2003 6:34 AM
To: 'histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'
Subject: Coverslipping without gloves


As my last words on the subject, I would like to say that I wasn't
criticising the processing of tissues with Xylene, I'm not sure that it was
ever an issue. I merely said that I was concerned that individuals were
coverslipping without gloves using Xylene. If as has also been stated that
Xylene penetrates Nitrile Gloves, then surely it must enter the skin. Xylene
has a warning on the bottle, Harmful by inhalation and in contact with
skin.I think that speaks for itself.
I don't consider myself paranoid because I put my own health and safety and
that of my staff first. (nor do the staff)  
There are a number of Xylene substitutes available, the best one I have
across which we use (and no, it doesn't smell of oranges) is Safeclear. Some
people may think it's not as as good as Xylene for processing (we're OK with
it) but as far as we know it is a lot safer.
Using Xylene, we used to suffer from tiredness, headaches and prior to
mounting with nitrile gloves severe dryness of the skin. We have the same
fume extraction with Safeclear but none of the previous symptoms.
I still thought we were in a friendly discussion, how can showing concerns
for other peoples welfare be unfriendly?.
Susan Hacker,
IAH,
Compton.