Question on E-6 Chemistry Contaminating Tanks

[williaty]

In poking around the internet, I found that someone claimed that the formaldehyde and/or formalin used in older E-6 and C-41 processing could permanently "poison" a plastic tank and reel set. Given that I just received a bunch of Jobo tanks and reels as part of an auction lot, this concerns me.

1) Is there any truth to this idea?

2) Did E6 chemistry from 1999 on contain sufficient concentrations of formalin and/or formaldehyde to cause problems running B&W, modern C-41, and modern E-6 in plastic tanks than ran E-6 heavily from 1999 to a few years ago?

3) Is there any problem using the same tanks and reels to run B&W, E-6, and C-41 using currently available chemicals?

 

[mts]

If you have any doubts, then run some test films through to see. I use SS Nikkor reels and tanks and have no problems with chemistry contamination. As I understand, current chemistry contains no formalin. Generally I would not expect photo grade plastic to cause you any problems, especially if you rinse the containers after processing.