The real cause for concern is that without a lot of
research nobody can compare a trade-name such as
Clear-Rite (which might contain any number of hazardous
components) with a real-world solvent such as xylene
or toluene (with toxicity & safety data easily available
in the public domain). It might be dangerous to use a
liquid when you don't know what it is.
-- 
-------------------------
John A. Kiernan
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
The University of Western Ontario
London,   Canada   N6A 5C1
   kiernan@uwo.ca
   http://publish.uwo.ca/~jkiernan/
_______________________

Bruce Gapinski wrote:
> 
> The problem I have with Clear-Rite is that one has no idea when the vapor
> level is too high. Xylene may be health haz 2 and Clear-Rite is 1 but I feel
> we're lured into a false sense of safety with Clear-Rite. What does too much
> Clear -Rite smell like? NOTHING!
> Bruce (I am not a rep, old school duffer) Gapinski
> 
>                 -----Original Message-----
>                 From:   Margaret Horne [mailto:mhorne@Upei.CA]
>                 Sent:   Wednesday, July 17, 2002 8:40 AM
>                 To:     David.Petsch@med.va.gov
>                 Cc:     histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
>                 Subject:        Re: Concerned about working with carcinogens
> 
>                 Instead of working with Xylene , we substitute Clear-Rite.
> I'm told
>                 that Xylene clears more quickly so I am careful not to rush
> the
>                 times,but we get good results.
>                            The Clear-Rite  is a mixture of alphatic
> hydrocarbons.  It
>                 has a health hazard index of 1 ( slightly hazarous). I still
> wear
>                 gloves and use it in the fume hood. Xylene has a health
> hazard
>                 index of 2 ( moderate hazard).
> 
>                           The supplier , if your interested , is :
>                                                Somagen Diagnostics Inc.
>                                                Edmonton , Alberta
>                                                Fax: 1-780-438-6595
> 
>                           The manufacturer is Richard-allan Scienific
>                                                         Kalamazoo , MI
>                                                         1-800-522-7270
> 
>                       Hope this is helpful ,  Margaret
>                 Margaret Horne
>                 Dept. of A&P,
>                 Atlantic Veterinary College, U.P.E.I.
>                 550 University Ave., Charlottetown,
>                 P.E.I.,  C1A 4P3
>                 Canada
> ____________________________---