Hazards of formaldehyde
From: | ANATECH LTD <email@anatechltdusa.com> |
Once again the subject of the health risks of formaldehyde have
arisen, and here yet again are my thoughts on the matter.
A 1 or 3 oz specimen jar of 10% formalin would pose minimal
(inconsequential) risk to many people, whether it was spilled on the
floor or counter, or used in the normal fashion. Anyone sensitized
to the chemical (and there are many in that category) would be in a
higher risk category.
However, the real point is that most situations with formalin do not
involve a single small container. If yours does, read no further.
Labs, OR's and clinics that have many of the containers, some of
which may be large, are in a very different circumstance. Spill 1
liter of 10% formalin on the floor, and you have a crisis that
warrants a well designed spill control plan and trained workers. CAP
and other accrediting agencies recognize this. Open not one but
several hundred containers and you have longer-term,
day-in-and-day-out exposure.
Formalin IS a hassle to deal with, not because of ignorant people but
because of enlightened people doing everything possible to make their
workplace and outer environment as safe and healthful as possible.
They deserve the support from all of us; they certainly have mine.
To those of you who are concerned, please contact us. We can help
minimize your risks if you must continue to use formalin, or we can
suggest highly effective alternatives from a variety of commercial
sources. As always, if you do not want a sales pitch, tell us up
front that you want technical information.
Dick
--
Richard W. Dapson, Ph.D.
Anatech Ltd.
Battle Creek, MI
800-ANATECH (800-262-8324)
email@anatechltdusa.com
Web address: anatechltdusa.com
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