Tricia, My understanding of US EPA regulations (and obviously this only applies if you are in the US) is that when the hazardous constituent (in this case PFA) comprises less than 1% of the waste solution, the solution is not considered hazardous. Concentrations equal to or greater than 1% are treated as hazardous waste. Accordingly, it seems to me that the contents of your waste container may be poured down the drain with respect to the [PFA]. Still, keep in mind that there may be other instances where it would be less than prudent to dispose of a low concentration of a waste without treatment (e.g. carcinogens, etc.), but that's certainly not the case with 0.01% PFA. Regards, Tom X-Originating-IP: [63.103.226.238] From: "Patricia Echeagaray" <pechado@hotmail.com> To: cyto-inbox Subject: Paraformaldehyde disposal question Date: Mon, 02 Sep 2002 11:40:13 -0400 X-OriginalArrivalTime: 02 Sep 2002 15:40:13.0429 (UTC) FILETIME=[0735A250:01C25297] X-PMFLAGS: 34079360 0 1 6396.cnm X-RCPT-TO: <tleonard@wistar.upenn.edu> All, At my current company, one of the scientists here insists that the waste from counting fixed cells on the coulter counter should be saved and disposed of as chemical waste. The cells (T'cells/PBMCs) are fixed in a final concentration of 1% PFA. 100 ul are added to a 10 ml volume of ISOTON. Can any of you tell me why...assuming this is common practice? At other places I've been in the past, I'm fairly sure we just bleached it and tossed it down the sink. That is what is done with the other 100 ul of fixed cells (where PFA is much more concentrated, of course) since we make 200 ul total volume (100 ul 2%PFA + 100 ul cells). Thank in advance! Tricia Echeagaray ---------- Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. Click Here At 11:40 AM 9/2/02 -0400, Patricia Echeagaray wrote: > All, other 100 ul of fixed cells (where PFA is much more >concentrated, of course) since we make 200 ul total volume (100 ul 2%PFA + >100 ul cells). Thank in advance! Tricia Echeagaray >Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. Click Here >
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