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How toxic is PFA? - (Dec/09/2011 )

I've seen students using 4% PFA to fix cells in room conditions and not under the hood. Is it classified as a toxic chemical?

-science noob-

this wikipedia article can give you some idea:

paraformaldehyde

or click on one of the "msds" links on this product page from sigma:

paraformaldehyde

-mdfenko-

it is better to do it under the hood.

-akhshik-

The fumes can be toxic and it is a known carcinogen, but unless you are heating it it is not usually that volatile I think so I don't think using it on the bench is a problem, as long as you are wearing gloves to protect skin obviously. And don't drink it.

-philman-

philman on Thu Jan 5 16:10:26 2012 said:


The fumes can be toxic and it is a known carcinogen, but unless you are heating it it is not usually that volatile I think so I don't think using it on the bench is a problem, as long as you are wearing gloves to protect skin obviously. And don't drink it.

not to diminish the dangers of pfa but, according to the msds, it is a "suspected" carcinogen (with limited evidence in animals and none in human).

-mdfenko-