Hi Sarah, Thanks so much for the information. We do have a small fume extractor next to our formalin containers in the Gross Room. This might be worth a try for the coverslipper anyway. I believe that the piece of equipment I am thinking of buying while we evaluate xylene replacements is a larger version of that type of device, so it might work quite well.
Thanks for taking the time to respond, Shelley -----Original Message----- From: Sarah Holmes [mailto:sa...@kidneybiopsy.com] Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 12:22 PM To: D'Attilio, Shelley Subject: Re: [Histonet] Xylene sensitivity Not fully understanding your setup, we have had great success with inexpensive local fume extractors, like welders use, at our grossing and coverslipping sites. We still hand coverslip in front of a container of xylene (holding roughly 400ml) and we set the fume extractor right behind it to divert all fumes thru the charcoal filter. The fan competes so strongly with airflow that xylene (formalin) fumes are never in the breathing zone of the worker, and they are run thru an activated charcoal filter which we change every 3 months. Available at technitool.com, item number 272SO350 is the extractor, 272SO352 are filters. Hope this helps! Sarah Holmes Laboratory Manager Laboratory for Kidney Pathology, Inc. 1916 Patterson St, Suite 501 Nashville, TN 37203 615-321-5729 ----- Original Message ----- From: "D'Attilio, Shelley" <sdatt...@stormontvail.org> To: "Histonet Listserv (E-mail)" <histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu> Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 8:27 AM 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. Thank you for your cooperation. ****************************************************************************************************************** _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet 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. Thank you for your cooperation. ****************************************************************************************************************** _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet