Glen, I suppose it would all depend upon which xylene substitute one uses - if one switches to another that has a pungent odor such as the citrus based solvents - there could be problems with that as well. I have no scientific data to back this up nor have I researched it, but I would think if there wasn't a pungent odor involved the issues might not be as bad concerning sensitivity.
I personally have used xylene, and some of the citrus based solvents as well as the Pro-par (which doesn't have much of an odor at all) and a lot of the issues I have had have disappeared since I've been with Pro-par. Not advocating one product over another, but is seems the less noxious the better the environment seems to be with xylene substitutes - all personal experience. I apologize for not having documentation to send to you to back up my claims. Just an opinion - one of many! Kelly -----Original Message----- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Glen Dawson Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 11:27 AM To: rjbu...@yahoo.com; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Xylene sensitivity Rene', I must respectfully ask: what happens after you modify your procedures for this new employee & 2 days after everything has been standardized/validated another employee begins employment, but exhibits sensitivity to the new xylene substitute? I realize that getting another job NOW is not easy, but redoing standardized procedures over and over could drive a lab into the ground and ALL of the techs in that lab could be searching for another job. It is a mistake to automatically assume that substitutes cannot be toxic or cause sensitivity themselves. Glen D. Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:44:35 -0700 From: rjbu...@yahoo.com Subject: RE: [Histonet] Xylene sensitivity To: sdatt...@stormontvail.org; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; ihcman2...@hotmail.com Glen: I respectfully disagree. Do you have any idea what would mean to that employee to try to get another job NOW? Changing the procedure is what we (as histotechnique refers to) have been doing for ever. Perhaps you do not remember other methods, but I do because I started working in this field in 1952. Back then I processed tissues manually and used aniline oil to "clear", benzene as ante medium and was very glad when I switched to white gasoline and later to xylene. Do you know why xylene became so prevalent? Because in 1943 the AutioTechnicon was developed and they recommended xylene as the way to go. That selection also was the choice of the VIP manufacturers, and we all started to change from the toxic benzene and aniline oil to the toxic xylene. There are other ways of doing things and changing work or exposing to toxic chemicals is not the correct path, no matter how much we are "used to". René J. --- On Tue, 9/27/11, Glen Dawson <ihcman2...@hotmail.com> wrote: From: Glen Dawson <ihcman2...@hotmail.com> Subject: RE: [Histonet] Xylene sensitivity To: sdatt...@stormontvail.org, histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Date: Tuesday, September 27, 2011, 11:11 AM Shelley, Perhaps this employee should look into other job opportunities. The histo lab is filled with chemicals that can cause sensitivity in those people who may be prone to that. Unfortunately, some of the main players in the histo lab (xylene & formalin) are often the culprit, but they are the best products in terms of how well they work, how universally they are used, how well their characteristics are known, etc... I hate to sound like I'm not sympathetic, because I truly am, but I think it is a mistake to modify a histology lab's procedures to accomodate a new employee. Just my opinion, Glen Dawson BS, HT(ASCP) & QIHC Milwaukee, WI > Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:27:19 -0500 > From: sdatt...@stormontvail.org > To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu > Subject: [Histonet] Xylene sensitivity > > Hi all, > I have a new employee who is developing a scratchy, painful throat and some > difficulty breathing when exposed to xylene (for instance, when the cover is > raised on the coverslipper). This is her first job in a lab of any sort. We > are investigating all the usual culprits--air handling system, hoods, > allergies or virus unrelated to histology, etc. Right now she is wearing a > PAPR to work, which is obviously not a long-term solution. Ultimately, I > think we will conclude that this employee has a sensitivity to xylene and > possibly other chemicals in the histology lab, as other employees are not > complaining about symptoms related to chemicals. > > Does anyone have any experience with activated charcoal air cleaners? I am > looking at a portable unit that sits on casters and provides 4 air exchanges > per hour. It's not cheap at $1000, but well worth it if it will provide > relief for this employee and allow her to continue her employment. Our lab is > approximately 800-1000 sq. ft in size with 8 foot ceilings. We have 1 > standard bio-hood for processing cytology fluids and 2 wall-mounted "air > suckers" above our processors. I am open to any suggestions. > > Thanks, > > Shelley D'Attilio MT(ASCP) > Manager, Chemistry, Cytology and Histology Dept. of Pathology and > Laboratory Medicine Stormont-Vail HealthCare Topeka, Kansas > > > > > NEED A DOCTOR? Stormont-Vail's Health Connections can help you find a doctor > accepting new patients. Call (785) 354-5225. > > ****************************************************************************************************************** > > The information transmitted in this e-mail and in any replies and forwards > are for the sole use of the above individual(s) or entities and may contain > proprietary, privileged and/or highly confidential information. Any > unauthorized dissemination, review, distribution or copying of these > communications is strictly prohibited. If this e-mail has been transmitted to > you in error, please notify and return the original message to the sender > immediately at the above listed address. 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