glyoxal v. formaldehyde

[Judy Seigel <jseigel@panix.com>]

On Mon, 7 Apr 2008, Christina Z. Anderson wrote:

> My bottom line is that as far as toxicity, glyoxal and formalin are just as 
> toxic and that tends to be downplayed in comparative discussions about glut.

This is a supposition, tho it jibes with my experience: I've worked with 
both glyoxal and formalin a lot -- with students, too:  The actual 
strength of the solutions is low:  (from memory) about 20 cc per liter? 
When you read the hazards lit, they're talking about industrial strength 
40 hours a week. We use it for maybe an hour a couple of times a year. 
In other words, I doubt the risk from any of them in those amounts for 
that time is even measurable (and no way as lethal as canned sardines).

J.