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6112823 
Journal Article 
Dissolution of natural mineral and man-made vitreous fibers in Karnovsky's and formalin fixatives 
Bunn, WB; Hesterberg, TW; Law, BD 
1991 
Yes 
Inhalation Toxicology
ISSN: 0895-8378
EISSN: 1091-7691 
3 
3 
309-321 
Karnovsky's fixative and formalin are commonly used for fixing and storing lung tissue from animal inhalation studies. The dissolution rates of three natural mineral fibers (wollastonite, chrysotile, and crocidolite asbestos) along with eight man-made vitreous fibers (MMVF, representing a broad range of commercial products, including aluminosilicates, mineral wools, borosilicates, and lime silicates) were determined in Karnovsky's fixative and formalin buffer. Twenty-five milligrams of fiber was mixed with 25 ml of fixative or buffer in plastic bottles and maintained at room temperature with gentle agitation for up to 30 days. At specified times, samples were filtered through 0.45- or 0.22- mu m millipore filters, the residues were saved for SEM or TEM analysis, and the filtrates were analyzed for dissolved silica using inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy. Characteristic silica solubility curves were determined for each fiber type, and average silica solubility rates for 30 days were calculated. In Karnovsky's fixative, solubility rates (%SiO sub(2)/day) ranged from similar to 0.04 for chrysotile or crocidolite to 1.1 for wollastonite. 
toxicity testing; tissue preservation; Toxicology Abstracts; inhalation; X 24221:Toxicity testing