Prudent Practices for Handling Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories

Author(s): Blaine C. McKusick

Source: Science, New Series, Vol. 211, No. 4484 (Feb. 20, 1981), pp. 777-780
Published by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1686004
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 20 February 1981, Volume 211, Number 4484 SCI ENCE

laboratory that uses regulat

only intermittently and on
as well as many chemicals o
but sometimes highly hazar
ties, will restrict research w
increase in safety. A more e
Prudent Practices for Handli ing to achieve a high level
laboratory is to develop and
Hazardous Chemicals in Laborator ies general guidelines for ha
icals. Such guidelines should
chemical research laborator
Blaine C. McKt isick are similar in character whether in uni-
versities, government, or industry. They
should apply equally well to research
laboratories in other sciences, such as bi-
A National Research Council (NRC) chronic toxicity including carcinogenicity. ology and physics, where chemicals may
committee chaired by Herbert O. House While no set of proceduress ilikely to make a be used more sparingly, but where the
research laboratory entirelyrisk-free, the re-
recently issued a report with the above port's thesis is that, withidequate
a physiel awareness of chemical hazards tends to
.dequate physical
title (1, 2). The committee was formed in facilities, including properly
operating venti- be lower. They should likewise apply to
response to chemists' concerns about stances as though analytical and teaching laboratories that
lation; handling all new subs
long-term toxicities of many chemicals they were toxic until actualtoxicological
1 data use chemicals. Such are the guidelines
used in research laboratories. The goal are available; using appro priate protective described in the NRC report.
clothing and gloves when necessary; and an
of the committee was to develop authori- institutional commitment to a vigorous safety Laboratories contain a great variety of
tative guidelines for the handling and dis- program, the laboratory cari be a safe work- hazards, and indeed, much of the train-
posal of chemicals in laboratories. It was place. Experience, especially in industry, has ing of a scientist is learning how to carry
thought that the guidelines would be use- shown this. out laboratory operations safely. The
ful to laboratory supervisors and would This article is mostlydrawn c from the hazards can be grouped as physical or
help agencies to develop appropriate pol- NRC report and states its main con- chemical.
icies for health hazards in laboratories as clusions and recommend ations.
distinct from pilot plant and manufactur- The hazards of chemic :als in laborato-
ing operations. frothose in pilot Physical Hazards
ries are quite different im

The physical hazards-fire, explosion,

Summary. A National Research Council report has recommended practices electric for shock, cuts-have been over-
safe handling and disposal of hazardous chemicals in laboratories. They are a practi- shadowed in recent years by the toxic
cal alternative to detailed regulations on individual chemicals. hazards of chemicals. However, safety
can be improved with respect to these
more familiar hazards, which still claim
Philip Handler, president of the Na-plants or manufacturing plants. In the too many victims. Electrical heating has
tional Academy of Sciences, in a letterlaboratory one generally works with mil- largely banished the Bunsen burner and
transmitting the report to Eula Bingham ligrams or grams of material, in plants its kin from the laboratory, thus lessen-
of the Occupational Safety and Health with pounds or tons. In laboratories one ing the chance of fire and explosion.
Administration (OSHA) and other feder- tends to work with a wide variety of However, more can be done to remove
al officials, said of it: chemicals, many new or little studied; in sources of fire and sparks. For example,
The report provides safety guidelines for plants one tends to work with a relatively the quantity of flammable liquids stored
handling chemicals in laboratories--particu- small number of chemicals for weeks, in the laboratory should be limited, and
months, or years, and their properties motors should be of the nonsparking in-
larly in research laboratories whether they be
in academia, government, or industry-where are better known than those of most lab- duction type.
numerous chemicals are stored in small quan-
oratory chemicals. Regulations that re- With regard to explosions, there is
tities, many of them used only infrequently;
where a given chemical is rarely handled for quire extensive monitoring of exposure general awareness that certain classes of
an extended period; and where perhaps the levels, medical surveillance, voluminouscompounds, such as acetylides, azides,
greatest risks arise from working with sub- record-keeping, and specific work prac-ozonides, and peroxides, are explosive.
stances of less-than-well-known toxicity and
tices for individual chemicals may make
from acute accidents. A balanced approach is The author is assistant director of Haskell Labora-
good sense in a large-scale plant opera-tory for Toxicology and Industrial Medicine, E. I. du
presented to the full range of hazards associ-
ated with chemicals in a laboratory setting- tion that involves the same people forPont de Nemours and Co., Wilmington, Delaware
19898. He helped prepare the National Research
years. To apply the same regulations toCouncil
risks from fire, explosion, acute toxicity, and a report on which this article is based.

SCIENCE, VOL. 211, 20 FEBRUARY 1981 0036-8075/81/0220-0777$01.00/0 Copyright ? 1981 AAAS 777

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Yet there is insufficient awareness that halation or skin contact, so they should It also recommends a more stringent
ethers and alkenes can form explosive not be a problem if one follows the ad- "Procedure A" for substances of known
peroxides on long exposure to air. monition to "work in a hood and keep high chronic toxicity if amounts in ex-
The extensive introduction of electri- chemicals off your hands." Ingestion of cess of a few milligrams to a few grams
cal heating and instrumentation into the a chemical rarely occurs; it is usually the are to be used. Examples are the heavy-
laboratory, while decreasing fire hazard result of some poor practice, such as eat- metal compounds dimethylmercury and
and increasing productivity, has in- ing in the laboratory or not washing nickel carbonyl and the potent carcino-
creased the potential for shock. Three- hands before eating. gens benzo[a]pyrene and hexamethyl-
prong grounded equipment is much safer phosphoramide. OSHA has published
than the old-style two-prong type, and detailed procedures that must be fol-
two-prong receptacles should be re- Chronic Hazards lowed when working with 2-naphthyl-
placed. With ground-glass joints becom- amine, acrylonitrile, vinyl chloride, and
ing common, the incidence of cuts from Chronic hazards cause effects that re- 15 other chemicals that the agency has
unskillful shoving of glass tubing into sult from long exposure or effects thatclassified as carcinogens. The NRC re-
stoppers is declining. Cuts from glass- appear after a long latency period. Theport outlines these procedures, which
ware are still common, however, and effects may involve cumulative damageare more stringent than Procedure A.
many are preventable by greater care to any of numerous organs. Some chron-
and the use of leather gloves. ic effects are reversible if exposure to the
chemical is stopped, but others are irre-Laboratory Ventilation
versible, especially after extensive dam-
Chemical Hazards age has occurred. The key to safe handling of chemicals
Of the chronic effects of chemicals, in the laboratory is a good, properly in-
By chemical hazards we mean the cancer tox- has received the most attention stalled hood, and the NRC report de-
ic effects associated with chemicals. All lately. Only about two dozen chemicals votes many pages to hoods and the sub-
substances, natural or synthetic, havehave been definitely established as hu- ject of ventilation. It recommends that in
toxic effects at some dose level by some man carcinogens. However, hundreds a laboratory where workers spend most
kind of exposure. It is well known that have been found to be carcinogenic to of their time working with chemicals,
ingesting a small amount of potassium laboratory animals at some dose level, there should be a hood for each two
cyanide (about 200 milligrams) can killand a many that have not been tested are workers, and each worker should have at
human; it is less well known that 250 probably carcinogenic to some degree. least 2.5 linear feet of working space at
grams of table salt is also lethal. Be- Because different species can be affected the hood face. Hoods are more than just
cause all chemicals are potentially harm-quite differently by particular chemicals, devices to prevent undesirable vapors
ful and few have been thoroughly studiedthere is no direct correlation between from entering the general laboratory at-
toxicologically, a good strategy for con-carcinogenicity in animals and carcino- mosphere. When closed, they place pro-
trolling chemical hazards is to minimizegenicity in man. Nevertheless, it appears tective barriers between workers and
exposure to all chemicals. In practice that a significant number of chemicals chemical operations. Moreover, a hood
this means having a good, properly in- used in laboratories have some degreeisof an effective containment device for
stalled hood; checking its performance potential for carcinogenicity in man. spills. A hood should not be used to store
periodically; using it properly; carrying The question arises whether laborato- more than small amounts of chemicals
out most operations in the hood; pro- ry exposure to potential human carcino- and other materials, for large amounts
tecting the eyes; and, since many chemi- gens puts chemists at greater risk of can- block the flow of air and lower hood effi-
cals can penetrate the skin, avoiding cer than members of other professionsciency. or Chemicals should be stored in
skin contact by good techniques and ap- the general public. Several epidemiolog- ventilated cabinets instead.
propriate use of gloves and other pro- ic studies of relative mortality amongAir velocity at the face of a hood
tective clothing. If these simple rules chemists indicate that chemists have a should be about 60 to 100 feet per min-
are followed conscientiously, one is un- higher than expected risk of death from ute; surprisingly, velocities greater than
likely to get into serious trouble with cancer. However, a recent study com- this may degrade hood performance by
laboratory chemicals. paring 3,686 male Du Pont chemists with creating turbulence within the hood that
Toxic effects are classified as acute or 19,262 male Du Pont nonchemists in thecan cause vapors to spill out into the lab-
chronic. Acute effects are observed soon same salary categories found a some- oratory. Equipment should be placed as
after exposure and include burns, inflam- what lower cancer mortality among the far back in a hood as practical. However,
mation, allergic responses, damage to chemists (3). The evidence from epide- vapor concentration falls off so rapidly
the eyes, lungs, or nervous system (for miology is thus equivocal, and the NRC as a chemical is moved back from the
example, dizziness), and, as in the above report recommends further research. face of a hood that merely taking care to
example of potassium cyanide, death. However, whether or not chemists are at carry out operations at least 10 centime-
The effect and its cause are usually obvi- a greater risk of cancer than others, the ters behind the front edge of the hood is
ous, and so are the methods to prevent undeniable hazard of handling a variety an effective aid to safety. Hoods should
it. In the past, acute effects received of chemicals is sufficient reason for labo- have a gauge so the user can tell at a
more attention than chronic effects. Al- ratories to employ good practices. glance if the hood is operating properly.
though the latter now have the spotlight, Accordingly, the NRC report recom- Periodic inspections should be made to
acute effects must not be neglected. Not mends laboratory practices that should check on such things as the air velocity
only are they important in themselves, enable one to work safely with most sub- at several points along the face of the
but an institution's incidence of acute ef- stances, whatever their chemical, phys- hood, whether the hood is overcrowded,
fects is a good indicator of its general ical, or toxicological properties, whether and the airtightness of the ducts and ex-
level of safety. known or unknown. The report summa- haust system.
Most acute effects arise from in- rizes these practices as "Procedure B." Hoods are just one aspect of the total
778 SCIENCE, VOL. 211

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ventilation system of a building with lab- must be sure that they can be stored, this manner. Flammable materials and
oratories in it. The laboratories will handled, and disposed of safely. strong acids and bases should be well di-
probably contain glove boxes, ventilated The chemicals will generally arrive at luted. Volatile chemicals that are highly
storage areas, and other air outlets. aAir receiving room, from which they will toxic or bad-smelling should not be put
of proper temperature, humidity, andbe pu-sent to storerooms. The receiving and down the drain, as they may emerge
rity for the occupants will be coming storeroom
into personnel must be trained in from an interconnected drain and affect
each laboratory, as will air for the hoods handling containers of hazardous chem- people elsewhere in the building. Local
and other special facilities. Changes that icals and dealing with chemicals in case regulations often set further limits on this
affect one part of this complex system of af- spills. method.
fect all. With sharply rising energy costs,Too often in the design of labor
there is a temptation to lower the costbuildings,
of insufficient storage sp
heating, cooling, and humidifying airprovided. by This may result in over- of on the site or by a contractor. Usually
cutting down the airflow to laboratory crowding and in storing incompatible the liquids should be segregated into sev-
buildings. Such changes should be care- chemicals together. The storage rooms eral classes, such as hydrocarbons and
fully examined before being executed, should
as be cool and well ventilated. Bulk water-soluble compounds. Segregation
they may lower the airflow through quantities of flammable liquids should be of halogenated compounds is desirable if
hoods so much that the hoods no longer kept and dispensed in a separate room, they are used in large volume, for on in-
provide adequate protection. By impart- preferably in a fire-resistant building cineration they yield hydrogen halides
ing a false sense of security to the labora- away from the main building. Cylinders that may require scrubbing. Because the
tory worker, an inadequate hood can be of compressed gases should also be in a cost of acceptable waste disposal is ris-
worse than none at all. separate area and should be grouped by ing dramatically, recovery of laboratory
type (for example, flammable, highly chemicals that were formerly discarded
toxic, corrosive). Highly toxic sub- is becoming economically attractive. Ex-
Protective Equipment stances should be segregated in a cool, amples are mercury and common
dry area away from direct sunlight, solvents like toluene and acetone.
Specialized equipment can minimize Stockkeeping should be on a first-in, Solid wastes must be collected in a
exposure to the hazards of laborato- first-out system. Stored chemicals systematic way. Bottles of solid chem-
ry operations. Impact-resistant safety should be inspected at least annually, icals must be labeled and placed in metal
glasses are basic equipment and should and any that have deteriorated, lost their drums or buckets.
be worn at all times, for unlikely acci- identification, or begun to leak should be Before disposal, the most hazardous
dents are often the most hazardous ones. discarded. substances, such as strong carcinogens,
Safety glasses may be supplemented by In the laboratory, storage of large peroxides, and vesicants, should be
face shields or goggles for particular op- amounts of highly toxic, reactive, or chemically transformed to less hazard-
erations, such as pouring corrosive liq- flammable chemicals is to be avoided. ous materials when feasible. For ex-
uids. Because skin contact with chem- Hazardous materials are best stored in ample, dimethyl sulfate, a carcinogen
icals can lead to skin irritation or sensiti- ventilated cabinets connected to a hood. animal tests, is readily hydrolyzed by a
zation or, through skin absorption, to Bottled chemicals, especially liquids, kali to methanol and sulfate.
effects on internal organs, protective should be in trays that will contain the The final disposal of wastes is one of
gloves are often needed. There is no material if bottles break. Flammable liq- the most difficult problems of a research
glove material that serves all purposes; uids should not be stored in refrigerators institution. Incineration is the most envi-
natural rubber, butyl rubber, neoprene, that are not of an approved, explosion- ronmentally acceptable way to handle
and polyvinyl chloride are four of the proof type. most organic chemicals as well as prod-
most commonly used materials, and Chemicals in the laboratory should be ucts of biological research c
each has its own spectrum of chemicals inventoried periodically, and in the inter- with chemicals, such
for which it is an effective barrier. est of safety, unneeded items should go casses, feed, and excrem
Aprons, lab coats, and jump suits are back to the storeroom or be discarded. temperature incinerator
among the kinds of apparel that may these materials to elemental oxides that
sometimes be useful or even necessary. generally present little problem. Second-
Laboratories should have fire extin- Disposal of Chemicals ary equipment such as electrostatic pre-
guishers, safety showers, and water cipitators or an afterburner may be at-
fountains to flush chemically contami- The Resources Conservation and Re- tached, so modern incinerators are co
nated eyes. Respirators should be avail- covery Act (RCRA) and local laws in- plicated, expensive devices that requi
able for emergencies. These and other creasingly regulate the disposal of chem- trained operators and mechanics. Neve
kinds of emergency equipment, such as ical wastes, and familiarity with these theless, a large institution will often fin
first-aid materials and blankets for cov- laws is the first step in developing a dis- it best to have its own incinerator to en
ering injured persons, are generally best posal plan. sure that wastes are properly disposed
kept in a central location. Emergency Used or unwanted chemicals must be of. This also avoids the need for surveil-
equipment must be inspected period- disposed of in ways that do not harm lance of contract haulers and disposers
ically. people and have minimal impact on the and much of the extensive labeling and
environment. Many chemical wastes can record-keeping required under Depart-
be handled satisfactorily by sewage ment of Transportation regulations and
Procurement and Storage of Chemicals treatment systems. Such wastes can be the cradle-to-grave provisions of the
safely flushed down the sink to the sewer RCRA.
Safe handling of hazardous chemicals system, but the limitations of this meth- Solid chemical wastes not suitable for
begins with the person who needs and od must be recognized. Only water-sol- incineration must be buried in a landfill
orders them. Before ordering them he uble substances should be disposed of in approved by the Environmental Pro-
20 FEBRUARY 1981 779

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tection Agency. Finding an approved with the laboratory managers to review program; active participation in it by the
landfill at a convenient distance is often safety performance and plan improve- whole staff; good ventilation, including
difficult. Moreover, the problem is wors- ment; monthly meetings of all members an ample supply of well-designed hoods;
ening because communities do not want of each research group to act similarly appropriate protective clothing; storage,
landfills for hazardous waste disposal within their area; monthly inspection of handling, and disposal of all chemicals in
nearby and will fight to keep them away. each area by some of the employees ways that recognize that every chemical
On top of that, there is a shortage of re- working in that area; quarterly in- can be toxic under some circumstances;
liable contractors to haul waste away spections of the whole laboratory by a and acceptance of the main principles of
and put it in landfills. As a result there is committee of employees; a handbook of the NRC report. The facilities and opera-
a rising interest in incinerating all haz- rules and practices for handling chem- tions in a laboratory must be monitored
ardous wastes that are combustible and icals; and easy access to books and data regularly, with particular attention to the
minimizing the amount of those that sheets are giving the chemical, physical, and ventilation facilities. However, for most
not. physiological properties of laboratory laboratory environments, the regular
chemicals so that they can be known be- analysis of air for many chemicals is un-
fore experiments are started (4). The im- necessary and impractical.
Safety Program portance of commitment to safety at the
top of the laboratory organization can References and Notes

An effective laboratory safety program hardly be exaggerated; a laboratory's 1. Committee on Hazardous Substances in the
Laboratory, National Research Council Assem-
must have strong support from the head safety record is directly related to its bly of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Pru-
of the laboratory and must be based on management's commitment. For the lab- dent Practices for Handling Hazardous Chem-
icals in Laboratories, xiv + 291 pp., $12 (Na-
the participation of all members of the oratory management to be effective, of tional Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Ave-
laboratory. The goal is that all those di- course, they must have strong support nue, NW, Washington, D.C., 1981).
2. The committee included Herbert O. House,
recting or carrying out operations with for the safety program from the adminis- Georgia Institute of Technology, chairman;
chemicals be safety-minded so that pos- tration of the organization of which the Robert A. Alberty, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology; Jerome A. Berson, Yale Universi-
sible hazards are foreseen and guardedlaboratory is a part. ty; Robert W. Day, University of Washington;
Thomas S. Ely, Eastman Kodak Co.; Ronald W.
against before experiments start. A In principle, any laboratory, whether Estabrook, University of Texas Health Science
safety coordinator who can advise on in industry, academia, or government, Center; Anna J. Harrison, Mount Holyoke Col-
lege; Donald M. Jerina, National Institute of Ar-
safe practices and inspect the laboratory can emulate the laboratories with the
thritis, Metabolism, and Digestive Diseases;
for compliance with its rules is essential best safety records. Those who manage Marvin Kuschner, State University of New
York Health Science Center; Elizabeth C. Mill-
to a good safety program. However, he laboratories or work in them will find er, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Robert A.
cannot relieve the head of the laboratory good guidance for safety policies and al Neal, Vanderbilt University; J. E. Rall, Nation-
Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism, and Diges-
of the responsibility for the safety of that practices in the NRC report (1). tive Diseases; George Roush, Jr., Monsanto
Co.; Alfred W. Shaw, Shell Development Co.;
laboratory, nor the managers or profes- and Howard E. Simmons, E. I. du Pont de Ne-
sors for the safety of the operations un- mours and Co. William Spindel, National Re-
search Council, was the study director.
der their jurisdiction, nor the individual Conclusion
3. S. Hoar, thesis, Harvard School of Public
employees or students for the safety of Health, Boston (1980); J. Occup. Med., sub-
mitted.
their own operations. No facilities or procedures can make 4. The NRC report includes a compilation of the
Many of the best safety programs are chemical operations totally free of haz- chemical, physical, and physiological properties
of 33 common laboratory chemicals known to
in industry. The following features are ards. However, the laboratory can be a constitute a hazard under some conditions. This
kind of data sheet, if available for about a thou-
common in such programs: monthly safe place to work if there is institutional sand chemicals and kept up to date, would be a
meetings of the head of the laboratory determination to have a strong safety big aid to safety in the laboratory.

780 SCIENCE, VOL. 211

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