Like I always say, the basic principle of civilization is two wrongs make
a right....as seen at this moment in fear of formaldehyde (which I do
hope is exaggerated, having managed this morning to spill a gallon of
working solution all over my legs and bare feet!)
Because we spent our youth in school biology labs, noses 2 inches from a
fetal pig which had been pickled in pure formaldehyde, struggling to
dissect out each nasty salivary gland and other unspeakable body part or
flunk the course, we find ourselves as adult gum printers obliged to
whine, connive, beg or steal to get 15 cc of formaldehyde.
But the point I am trying (failing?) to make is not in favor of
formaldehyde candy but of, let's say, moderation. There is a great deal of
crying wolf today, not just by Light Impressions, which packaged the gum
arabic, but by OSHA and all the others. Think, for instance of how the
"dangers" of asbestos have been fudged, exaggerated and distorted, so that
perfectly sound asbestos is ripped out, creating a more dangerous
situation than if it had simply been left intact. And when I had to remove
one trash pail's worth of asbestos cement from an old oil burner, the
production took a crew of 6 with showers, astronaut-style safe suits,
boots and tents, two days. The man who sat on the stoop with me waiting to
sign the cartage off en route to North [or was it South?] Carolina
"explained" that the whole deal was a scheme to get work for Polish
people....although, lest any Polish people on this list be outraged, I
hasten to add that I didn't for a minute believe that. I know you're all
research scientists.)
Anyway, as I was saying, we must each examine the evidence and decide
when there really is a wolf, merely a possible wolf, or probably no wolf
at all. Otherwise we are paralysed.
Meanwhile, in the real world, I'm still trying might and main
to get students to keep their hands out of the chemistry. "This is a dry
hands class!" I exclaim and beg -- and smack their hands in the
trays without gloves. So in the afternoon they have view camera where the
teacher tells them they can't possibly flip sheet film unless
they put their hands in there. From where I stand, 15 cc of formaldehyde
outdoors once a year or so is NOT the big bad wolf.
Judy