Number
137-EN
Section
General Section
Use
Sector
Electricity, steam, gas water supply and sewage treatment
Scientific research and development
Function
Durability agent
Embalming agent
Process
Manual activities involving hand contact
Product category
laboratory chemicals
Application
preserving macroinvertebrates in fresh water samples
Abstract
A well-known preservative, formaldehyde, is also a carcinogen and a sensitiser. Its use for preserving macroinvertebrates in fresh water samples can be substituted by freezing parts of the samples and using ethanol for the other parts.
Substituted substances
Formaldehyde
CAS No. 50-00-0 EC No. 200-001-8 Index No. 605-001-00-5
Chemical group
Aldehyde
Classification: hazard statements
H350 May cause cancer
H341 Suspected of causing genetic defects
H331 Toxic if inhaled
H311 Toxic in contact with skin
H301 Toxic if swallowed
H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
H317 May cause an allergic skin reaction
Other adverse effects
The substance is: 1 carcinogen (IARC) as listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORT Screening Criteria (SDSC).
Alternative Substances
Ethanol
CAS No. 64-17-5 EC No. 200-578-6 Index No. 603-002-00-5
Chemical group
Alcohol
Classification: hazard statements
H225 Highly flammable liquid and vapour
Other adverse effects
The substance is: 1 carcinogen (IARC), as listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORT Screening Criteria (SDSC).
Reliability of information
Evidence of implementation: there is evidence that the solution was implemented and in use at time of publication
Reason substitution
CMR
skin/respiratory sensitizing
other toxic effects
physical hazards
Other type of alternative
Preservation (part) of biological samples by freezing.
Hazard Assessment
Substance to be substituted: Formaldehyde is: a 2A carcinogen (IARC), 1A or 1B carcinogen (CLP Regulation), a sensitiser (H317, H334; CLP Regulation) as listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC). Alternative substance: Though ethanol is listed as IARC carcinogen in beverages, under the conditions of use is less hazardous than formaldehyde.
Description of Substitution
Macroinvertebrate bioindicators are used in evaluating the biological quality of water. Traditionally the biological material of the samples is preserved using formaldehyde, which is both a carcinogen and a sensitiser. An alternative method published by the Direction Regionale de l’Environnement (DREN) Lorraine-France uses less hazardous means. It consists in elutriating the samples and separating a floating part concentrated in invertebrates which is preserved in ethanol and a sedimented part (sand, stones) that is frozen on the spot. Samples that are too small to elutriate are preserved entirely in ethanol, those that cannot be elutriated (sludge) are entirely frozen.
Case/substitution evaluation
The report published by DREN evaluates the method as feasible and easy to apply. Freezing part of the samples lowers the consumption of ethanol considerably. In the same time ethanol preserved some taxonomic groups better that would be deteriorated or destroyed if only freezing would be used. The chemical risk of the method is lowered by using the alternative to formaldehyde.
State of implementation
In use
Date and place of implementation
France
Availability of Alternative
Alternatives available on the market
Type of information supplier
Authority
Contact
INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE ET DE SÉCURITÉ pour la prévention des accidents du travail et des maladies professionnelle ), France, http://www.inrs.fr www.inrs.fr
Type of publication and availability
Fact sheet freely available
Publication source: author, company, institute, year
The Fact sheet was developed by CNAMTS and INRS, France and published by INRS on its website in 2011
Publication source
Type of publication and availability
http://www.inrs.fr/dms/inrs/CataloguePapier/FICHE/TI-FAS-32/FAS32.pdf
Date, reviewed
December 11, 2020