Open AccessXylene: An overview of its health hazards and preventive measures
Author(s) -
Reena Kandyala,
Sumanth Phani C Raghavendra,
Saraswathi T Rajasekharan
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of oral and maxillofacial pathology/journal of oral and maxillofacial pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.455
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 1998-393X
pISSN - 0973-029X
DOI - 10.4103/0973-029x.64299
Subject(s) - xylene , hazard , safer , health hazard , environmental health , physical hazard , occupational safety and health , medicine , toxicology , computer science , computer security , chemistry , pathology , biology , organic chemistry , benzene
Xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon known for its wide usage in tissue processing, staining and cover slipping in the histology laboratory. The hazards of xylene are well documented, making it a potential occupational hazard for the histopathological technicians. As every other profession became cautious of the occupational hazards, the very speciality that identifies the illnesses became one of the last to become aware and remedy its own hazards. This review article aims to discuss the toxicity of xylene and safety measures to counteract the hazards and enlists the pros and cons of using various substitutes that claim to be much safer, better and faster.