Name: ___________________________________ Date: ______________

Year and Section: __________________________ Group No.: _________

Exercise No. 3

INDUSTRIAL HAZARDS

I. Objectives: At the end of the laboratory exercise the students should be able to:
1. observe the effects of disinfectants used in working places on animals;
and
2. identify the different chemicals that are used in disinfecting apparatus

II. Materials:

4% formalin Mice: 2
Phenol Glycerin

III. Procedures:

A. Inhalation Toxicity Test:

1. Place 2 mice in separate cages with dynamic flow system of air or inside the
hood.
2. Place 4% formalin in a beaker and place inside the hood.
3. Expose the mice to the formalin inside the hood for a maximum of 2 hours.
4. Remove the rats from the hood after one hour.
5. Observe the behavioral effects of the chemicals on the mice and record your
observation as follows:
5.1 Central Nervous Depression

1. Decrease in motor activity

Make noise around the cage for a second or two. Scoring is based on the corresponding
observation.

(+) is quiet, occasionally moves spontaneously

(+) does not move spontaneously, but when handled will move slowly
(++) when handled will move very sluggishly
(+++) when handled will not move at all
 5.2 Respiratory rate and depth
Palpate and measure with stopwatch the time for 50 breaths. Record the
number of seconds and minutes. A decrease in respiratory rate is
reflected by a higher figure as compared with that during the control
period, and an increase in respiratory is shown by a lower figure.
Decrease in respiratory depth is rated as:

(+) moderate decrease

(+) definite decrease
(++) pronounced decrease

5.3 Paralysis of forelegs, hind legs, and Head

Lift and drop the mouse. Observe and score as shown below:
(+) the head or legs fall sluggishly back after lifting and dropping
(+) the head or legs fall rapidly back after lifting and dropping. The
mouse cannot perform any muscular movement.
B. Skin-Irritation Test

1. Shave the hair of the lower leg of a healthy mouse until the skin is exposed.
Observe the color of the skin.
2. Place a few drops of phenol on the skin of the mouse until it turns into white.
Observe the behavior of the rat and record the observation.
3. Place a few drops of glycerin on the affected skin of the mouse until the color of
the skin shows its original color. Observe and explain your observation.

IV. Observation/Results/Conclusion
A. Inhalation Toxicity Test

1.

Specimen Rats Decrease in Motor Respiratory Rate Paralysis of Head,

Activity Depth Forelegs and Hind
legs
1 (+) is quiet, (+) the head or legs
occasionally moves (+) definite decrease fall sluggishly back
spontaneously after lifting and
dropping
2 (+) does not move (+) the head or legs
spontaneously, but (+) definite decrease fall sluggishly back
when handled will after lifting and
move slowly dropping
 Number of Deaths
2. Mortality Rate =
Number of Test Animals

Mortality rate = 0 = 0
2

B. Skin Irritation Test

1. Color of the skin before: White

The application: Pink

2. Color of the skin after: Pink

Application of phenol: White

3. Color of the skin after: White

Application of glycerin: Pink

V. Questions:

1. What is the use of formalin in different workplaces and give their

corresponding percentages?

Laboratories - 10% Formaldehdye and water is commonly used as a preservative

in medical laboratories and mortuaries.

In dialysis, a 4% formaldehyde (11% formalin) concentration is used.

Funeral Homes - Formalin is 40% of formaldehyde and is used for the cavities
and abdomen

Poultry Farm - 5% of formaldehyde is used as an effective disinfectant

Manufacture of plastic polymers - 65% to 70% of all manufactured formaldehyde

is used to produce phenol, urea, melamine, and actyl resins for the construction,
textile, automobile, and appliance industries

Manufacture of cosmetics - According to legislation in the USA and the

European Union, free formaldehyde content up to 0.2% (2000ppm) is allowed to
be present in cosmetics and household products.
2. What are 3 of the toxic effects of formalin and phenols?

Formalin Phenols
1. CNS depression 1. Anorexia
2. Coma 2. diarrhea
3. Metabolic acidosis 3. vertigo

3. What are the different antidotes used in the management of phenol

poisoning?

Antidote:

● Vegetable oil (olive oil or castor oil) and lavage later on

● Dermal Exposure: PEG
● Inhalation: 100% humidified O2

4. What should a pharmacist do to the patient during inhalation

toxicity?

The pharmacist’s roles in a typical poisoning case. First of all, the triage
officer can very well be a pharmacist. This individual would be staffing a
poison information center for a large city or state operation, or in particular
hospital. A detailed knowledge of overthe-counter and prescription drugs, and
other potentially dangerous material, such as plants, is included in the training
of the modem pharmacist. This one individual, then, can serve to make
judgment as to types of material ingested and the toxic liability of that
material, something that cannot be achieved through the use of a secretary or
clerk, or in some cases by a medical resident who is on call. The pharmacist
not only can readily identify the various materials, but more often is more
familiar with the possibility that the person who has ingested some material
may also be taking some medication for some other reason
5. If a patient suffers from acidic chemical intoxication on the skin,
what should you do as a first-aid treatment?

First Aid for Dermatological exposure

● Remove contaminated clothing, taking care to avoid contact with the

chemical
● Wash the skin with cool water continuously for 15 minutes and then wasg
gently with soap and water. Rinse well.

6. What are other industrial hazardous substances?

Industrial Hazardous Substances:

Ethylene Glycol Lead

Methanol Cadmium
Formaldehyde Mercury
Acetone Arsenic
Hydrocarbons Phosphorus
Cyanide Aluminum
Phenol Zinc
Iron Carbon Tetrachloride
Orgamophosphates Carbon Monoxide
Strychnine

7. What are the precautionary measures to be observed by workers

who are exposed to industrial poison?

To prevent workplace poisoning incidents, take steps such as:

● Ventilating work areas where hazardous substances are used and

stored Enclosing hazardous operations to prevent dangerous
vapors from escaping into the air employees breathe
● Restricting entry to hazardous areas to authorized, trained, and
properly equipped workers
● Requiring the use of PPE specifically designed to protect you
against the specific hazardous substances employees work with
● Training employees to consult the MSDS and their supervisor for the
proper PPE and work practices for handling hazardous substances.