B5, Schaudinn's, SUSA, Helly's, and Zenker's fixatives contain mercury (II) ions, which are VERY poisonous. Sewage bacteria convert mercury (II) to methyl mercury, which is very, very poisonous. (For a shocking example of mercury toxicity, see the photo essay MINAMATA by W. Eugene Smith.) When these fixatives are used, the fixative and the first washing must be given to a waste disposal company that can recycle it. B5 substitutes substitute a less poisonous ion, usually zinc (II), for mercury. These substitutes contain other things that are more poisonous than zinc. I store them as if they were purely the most poisonous component and give them to a waste disposal company twice a year.
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bryan Watson Sent: Monday, October 20, 2008 10:04 AM To: Piero Nelva; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] B5 fixative For all of the listed B5 substitutes mentioned, how are they disposed of and are they significantly safer? >>> "Piero Nelva" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 10/17/2008 17:59 >>> I agree. The Occ Health and SAfety representative is your best bet to consign the B5 to history. Piero Nelva Anatomical pathology Monash Medical Centre Australia ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Cartun" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu>; "Bryan Watson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, October 18, 2008 12:46 AM Subject: Re: [Histonet] B5 fixative If you are having a hard time with a pathologist regarding the use of B5, get your safety people involved. They will take care of it. We stopped using B5 a very long time ago. We use formalin for all our lymph nodes and bone marrows. No one should be using B5 and manufacturers should stop making it. Richard Richard W. Cartun, Ph.D. Director, Histology & Immunopathology Assistant Director, Anatomic Pathology Hartford Hospital 80 Seymour Street Hartford, CT 06102 (860) 545-1596 (860) 545-0174 Fax >>> "Bryan Watson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 10/17/08 9:21 AM >>> How many still use B5 fixative? And for those who do not, what do you use as a replacement? One of our pathologists is insistent on using B5, and we'd rather try to get away from it. Thanks, Bryan _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.173 / Virus Database: 270.8.1/1731 - Release Date: 10/17/2008 7:01 PM _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
