Well we still use Hematoxylin powder, Xylene ,Oil Red O, Beibrich scarlet and Congo red and we haven't been stopped yet. I'd think embalmer would be well-fixed and preserved ,rather than have a high mortality rate. Have the proven it's from formaldehyde? Whom knows what the get from a dead body? Bernice
-----Original Message----- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Robert Richmond Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 9:11 AM To: Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Formaldehyde in H2S's 12th RoC The US Department of Health and Human Services (sometimes affectionately known as H2S) has released the 12th Report on Carcinogens (RoC). The report lists formaldehyde as a definite human carcinogen. The regulatory repercussions of this aren't immediately clear, but I suspect pathologists will see increasing pressure to eliminate formaldehyde fixation. As the snake oil peddlers come out of the woodwork, it's going to become increasingly important to remember that there is no substitute for formaldehyde that will not greatly change the way pathologists and histologists work. A not entirely satisfactory New York Times account is at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/11/health/11cancer.html?hp The report itself can be obtained in pieces in PDF form at: http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/?objectid=72016262-BDB7-CEBA-FA60E922B18C2540 The 12th RoC reports repeat the mantra "studies show" at Joyce Brothers length, but do not really make clear what the facts are. They do offer these references about mortality among embalmers and pathologists. Does anyone on the list have access to these papers? Hauptmann M, Lubin JH, Stewart PA, Hayes RB, Blair A. 2003. Mortality from lymphohematopoietic malignancies among workers in formaldehyde industries. J Natl Cancer Inst 95(21): 1615-1623. Hauptmann M, Lubin JH, Stewart PA, Hayes RB, Blair A. 2004. Mortality from solid cancers among workers in formaldehyde industries. Am J Epidemiol 159(12): 1117-1130. Hauptmann M, Stewart PA, Lubin JH, Beane Freeman LE, Hornung RW, Herrick RF, et al. 2009. Mortality from lymphohematopoietic malignancies and brain cancer among embalmers exposed to formaldehyde. J Natl Cancer Inst 101(24): 1696-1708. Posting this both to PATHO-L and to Histonet. Bob Richmond Samurai Pathologist Knoxville TN _______________________________________________ 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