Lack of asbestos contamination of paraffin.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate possible asbestos contamination of paraffin and migration by asbestos fibers during the tissue-embedding process.


METHODS
Three sample categories were included in the study: (1) commercially available paraffin samples; (2) procedural control samples, which were prepared by processing the paraffin through the use of standard solvents and instruments; and (3) samples taken from areas adjacent to embedded tissue and evaluated for migration of asbestos from the tissue into the surrounding paraffin. The analysis of collected material from all samples was performed with analytical transmission electron microscopy.


RESULTS
Only one extremely small tremolite fiber was found in any of the commercially available samples of paraffin. No asbestos fibers were found either in the procedural control samples or in the samples taken adjacent to the embedded lung tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
First, it was extremely unlikely that any of the commercial paraffin samples would have skewed data due to embedded tissue. Second, the processing and instrumentation was not found to contribute asbestos material to the paraffin during the preparations. Finally, embedded tissue that contained high numbers of fibers, both uncoated fibers and asbestos bodies, did not contribute asbestos to the adjacent paraffin.
Dodson
R F
RF
Department of Cell Biology and Environmental Sciences, The University of Texas Health Center at Tyler, 75710, USA.
Huang
J
J
Williams
M G
MG
Bruce
J R
JR
Hammar
S P
SP
D001194:Asbestos / Q000032:analysis*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D016591:Histocytological Preparation Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry; D019016:Mineral Fibers / Q000032:analysis; D010232:Paraffin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000592:standards; D016612:Paraffin Embedding / Q000295:instrumentation*
D019016:Mineral Fibers; D001194:Asbestos; D010232:Paraffin