----------
> From: Jeff Silverman <peptolab@hamptons.com>
> To: Wenk, Lee & Peggy <lpwenk@netquest.com>
> Subject: Re: Xylene Substitute
> Date: Thursday, May 20, 1999 7:10 PM
> 
> Peggy, 
> Thanks for the info about GRAS rating of limonene. FDA came to my mind
> first but I was at e mailing from home and OSHA just came out. We have
our
> own sewage treatment plant at the hospital and my safety officer and
plant
> maintenance report no problem with its disposal in our system, other than
> the caveat about paraffin saturation from purge solution. I dump less
than
> 1 gallon per week since the solutions seem to last well in the stain
setup.
> 
> Jeff Silverman
> 
> ----------
> > From: Wenk, Lee & Peggy <lpwenk@netquest.com>
> > To: Jeff Silverman <peptolab@hamptons.com>
> > Cc: Jorge Villalona <jvillalona@snet.net>; histonet@Pathology.swmed.edu
> > Subject: Re: Xylene Substitute
> > Date: Thursday, May 20, 1999 5:48 AM
> > 
> > Concerning the statements on Limonene:
> > 
> > 1. The GRAS (generally regarded as safe) status mentioned in the
> > email - this is from the FDA (Federal Drug Administration), not OSHA.
> > 
> > The FDA regulates drugs and food additives. Limonene has been
> > approved by the FDA for use in very small amounts as a food 
> > additive to give the food an orange-y, citrus-y smell and flavor.
> > Limonene is therefore GRAS when used in such small quantities 
> > when used as a food additive (a few drops in a large batch of
> > candy for example).
> > 
> > The FDA does NOT regulate, extend or state that Limonene is GRAS 
> > when used in large quantities or in ways other than as a 
> > food additive. In other words, the FDA does not extend this GRAS 
> > status to using gallon(s) of it in a histology lab. 
> > 
> > OSHA does not extend a GRAS statement to any chemical. It states
> > what a chemical will and won't do in terms of hazards.
> > 
> > Therefore, no federal agency states that Limonene is GRAS for
> > anyone working with it in a laboratory. Chemical hygiene and
> > safety procedures still apply. Read the MSDS for additional
> > information.
> > 
> > 2. Not all communities will allow the dumping of Limonene down
> > the drain. It is oily and floats. Check with your area's water
> > and sewer treatment plant. You may still need to have it hauled
> > away, like xylene.
> > 
> > Hope this helps.
> > 
> > ***************
> > 
> > Peggy A. Wenk, HTL(ASCP)
> > William Beaumont Hospital
> > Royal Oak, MI 48073
> > 
> > 
> > Jeff Silverman wrote:
> > > 
> > > Jorge,
> > > I use any of the d-limonene products: Americlear from Allegience
Health
> > > care, Hemo De from Fisher, or Clearene from Surgipath. D- limonene is
a
> > > food grade oil, a terpene extracted from the peels of oranges and
> > > grapefruits. It is non toxic but it has a strong orange smell- many
> people
> > > like it and many others hate it. Some people have an allergic
> sensitivity
> > > reaction to it but no one in my lab has been bothered in ten years.
Not
> > > only is it non-toxic and "generally regarded as safe" by OSHA,
> d-limonene
> > > has anticancer activity and is being fed to human cancer patients in
> > > clinical trials. We can dump it down the sink and use it in all
> staining
> > > stations of paraffin and Pap smears. We also use it to purge the
tissue
> > > processor- one change lasts me ten purges (two weeks) but  the purge
> > > solution can go in the garbage not down the sink because it is too
> > > saturated with paraffin. I still use xylene  in my VIP for processing
> > > because d-limonene is not as good, some blocks are greasy. But this
> exposes
> > > us to xylene only every five or six weeks when we change the
processor.
> > > D-limonene has a high vapor pressure and coverslipping multiple
slides
> is
> > > easy, no "corn flake nuclei" from rapid evaporation. Also, you need
to
> keep
> > > a jar of xylene at the coverslipping  bench to clean smeared slides
> since
> > > the -d-limonene does not dissolve the Cytoseal medium.  I heartily
> endorse
> > > it but watch out for allergies. E mail if you need more info.
> > > Jeff Silverman
> > > Southampton Hospital
> > > NY USA
> > > peptolab@hamptons.com
> > > 
> > > ----------
> > > > From: Jorge Villalona <jvillalona@snet.net>
> > > > To: histonet@Pathology.swmed.edu
> > > > Subject: Xylene Substitute
> > > > Date: Wednesday, May 19, 1999 7:23 PM
> > > >
> > > > Hi, everyone in the field of histotechnology.
> > > >
> > > > Our histology lab is looking for a xylene substitute that is easy
to
> > > > dispose of, great for diparaffinization, dihydration, coverslipping
> and
> > > > most important; nonhazardous to our health.
> > > > If anyone is using a xylene substitute, please give us your input.
> > > > We greatly appreciate your commends and recomendation.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks.
> > > > Jorge Villalona; HT (ASCP)
> > > >