Re: [Histonet] formalin managment--what about recycling?
Ditto Renee! Debbie M. Boyd, HT(ASCP) l Chief Histologist l Southside Regional Medical Center I 200 Medical Park Boulevard l Petersburg, Va. 23805 l T: 804-765-5050 l F: 804-765-5582 l dkb...@chs.net Rene J Buesa Sent by: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu 01/13/2012 12:56 PM To "histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu" , Cheryl cc Subject Re: [Histonet] formalin managment--what about recycling? I am absolutely opposed to formalin recycling because the least you are exposed to formalin, the better. When you buy specimen containers prefilled with formalin, your exposure is minimal. If after that you start collecting the used formalin into larger containers and recycle it your exposure increases ddramatically. The worst case scenario is recycling by distillation when, after the formalin is recycled, you have to check the pH and add the salts to neutralize it. Any recycling method used involves that you will have to keep dealing with it while filling the specimen containers. If there was a "stingy" histology manager that was me, BUT I never traded a few dollars savings for my staff safety. There is no savings that can compensate for the dangerous exposure to formalin. Use it the least, in the least amounts possible (2:1 is enough), in very well ventilated areas and pay somebody to take it away. That is how I feel about it. René J. --- On Fri, 1/13/12, Cheryl wrote: From: Cheryl Subject: [Histonet] formalin managment--what about recycling? To: "histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu" Date: Friday, January 13, 2012, 12:29 PM Now I'm curious. We all struggle with what is okay to go down the drain vs. what we're willing to put down the drain (I don't like dumping xylene substitues even when my water district says I can-- I like fish that swim right-side up! ) Can someone comment on the recycling programs out there for formalin and the costs vs. commercial waste haulers? Is the end product worth the effort? Thanks! Cheryl Kerry, HT(ASCP) , Histology Recruiter Full Staff Inc. Staffing the AP Lab by helping one GREAT Tech at a time. 281.852.9457 Office 800.756.3309 Phone & Fax ad...@fullstaff.org Sign up for the FREE newsletter AP News--updates, tricks of the trade and current issues for Anatomic Pathology Clinical Labs. Send a 'subscribe' request to apn...@fullstaff.org. Please include your name and specialty in the body of the email. ___ 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 -- Disclaimer: This electronic message may contain information that is Proprietary, Confidential, or legally privileged or protected. It is intended only for the use of the individual(s) and entity named in the message. If you are not an intended recipient of this message, please notify the sender immediately and delete the material from your computer. Do not deliver, distribute or copy this message and do not disclose its contents or take any action in reliance on the information it contains. ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
Re: [Histonet] formalin managment--what about recycling?
I am absolutely opposed to formalin recycling because the least you are exposed to formalin, the better. When you buy specimen containers prefilled with formalin, your exposure is minimal. If after that you start collecting the used formalin into larger containers and recycle it your exposure increases ddramatically. The worst case scenario is recycling by distillation when, after the formalin is recycled, you have to check the pH and add the salts to neutralize it. Any recycling method used involves that you will have to keep dealing with it while filling the specimen containers. If there was a "stingy" histology manager that was me, BUT I never traded a few dollars savings for my staff safety. There is no savings that can compensate for the dangerous exposure to formalin. Use it the least, in the least amounts possible (2:1 is enough), in very well ventilated areas and pay somebody to take it away. That is how I feel about it. René J. --- On Fri, 1/13/12, Cheryl wrote: From: Cheryl Subject: [Histonet] formalin managment--what about recycling? To: "histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu" Date: Friday, January 13, 2012, 12:29 PM Now I'm curious. We all struggle with what is okay to go down the drain vs. what we're willing to put down the drain (I don't like dumping xylene substitues even when my water district says I can-- I like fish that swim right-side up! ) Can someone comment on the recycling programs out there for formalin and the costs vs. commercial waste haulers? Is the end product worth the effort? Thanks! Cheryl Kerry, HT(ASCP) , Histology Recruiter Full Staff Inc. Staffing the AP Lab by helping one GREAT Tech at a time. 281.852.9457 Office 800.756.3309 Phone & Fax ad...@fullstaff.org Sign up for the FREE newsletter AP News--updates, tricks of the trade and current issues for Anatomic Pathology Clinical Labs. Send a 'subscribe' request to apn...@fullstaff.org. Please include your name and specialty in the body of the email. ___ 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] formalin managment--what about recycling?
Now I'm curious. We all struggle with what is okay to go down the drain vs. what we're willing to put down the drain (I don't like dumping xylene substitues even when my water district says I can-- I like fish that swim right-side up! ) Can someone comment on the recycling programs out there for formalin and the costs vs. commercial waste haulers? Is the end product worth the effort? Thanks! Cheryl Kerry, HT(ASCP) , Histology Recruiter Full Staff Inc. Staffing the AP Lab by helping one GREAT Tech at a time. 281.852.9457 Office 800.756.3309 Phone & Fax ad...@fullstaff.org Sign up for the FREE newsletter AP News--updates, tricks of the trade and current issues for Anatomic Pathology Clinical Labs. Send a 'subscribe' request to apn...@fullstaff.org. Please include your name and specialty in the body of the email. ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet