Hazards in the

Laboratory
Hazardous Material Identification Guide

The hazard rating colored diamond code

What does it mean ?
 NFPA label
Acetone
FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD:
DANGEROUS FIRE HAZARD
WHEN EXPOSED TO HEAT OR FLAME.
VAPORS ARE HEAVIER THAN
AIR AND MAY TRAVEL A
CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE TO A
SOURCE OF IGNITION AND FLASH
BACK. 3
VAPOR-AIR MIXTURES ARE
EXPLOSIVE.
FLASH POINT: closed cup 0°F (-18°C) 1 0
UPPER EXPLOSIVE LIMIT: 12.8%
LOWER EXPLOSIVE LIMIT: 2.6%
AUTOIGNITION TEMP: 869°F (465°C)
FLAMMABILITY CLASS (OSHA): IA
Commonly Encountered Hazard Signs/Symbols In
the Laboratory

Toxic Harmful or Irritant Flammable

Explosives Oxidizing Corrosive

 Commonly Encountered Signs/Symbols In the
Laboratory

Environmental Hazard Do Not Touch Sign No Open Flames Sign

Reactive Material Symbol Carcinogen Hazard Symbol Radioactive Symbol

 Commonly Encountered Signs/Symbols Inside the
Laboratory

Biohazard Symbol High Voltage Sign Compressed Gas

Battery hazard, Warning Danger obstacles,

Glass Hazard battery acid, leaking
batteries watch your step
 Commonly Encountered Safety Signs/Symbols In
the Laboratory

Fire Blanket Safety Shower

First Aid Sign
Safety Sign Sign

Eyewash Sign Fire Extinguisher Emergency Call

Sign Button Sign
Hazardous Substances: Routes of Exposure
Exposure to chemicals may occur by the following
routes:
1. Inhalation
(toxic vapors, mists, gases, or dusts)
 produce poisoning by absorption through the
mucous membrane of the mouth, throat and
lungs
 can seriously damage these tissues by local
action
 may pass rapidly into the capillaries of the
lungs and be carried into the circulatory system
Hazardous Substances: Routes of Exposure
Signs of Inhalation Exposure
(to irritating gases or vapors)
 sudden sneezing or coughing
 watering of eyes
 staggering gait
 changes in breathing rate
Symptoms of Inhalation Exposure
 headache
 irritation of eyes, nose, and throat
 increased secretion of mucous in
your nose and throat
Hazardous Substances: Routes of Exposure

2. Ingestion

Many of the chemicals used in the

laboratory are extremely dangerous if they
enter the mouth and are swallowed.

16
Hazardous Substances: Routes of Exposure

The relative acute toxicity of a chemical can

be evaluated by determining its LD50
(Lethal Dose).
Lethal Dose is defined as the quantity of
material that, when ingested or applied to
the skin in a single dose, will cause the
death of 50% of the test animals.
It is expressed in grams or milligrams per
kilogram of body weight.
Hazardous Substances: Routes of Exposure

3. Contact with Skin and Eyes

Signs of Skin Contact

redness (erythema)
 swelling (edema)
 dry whitened skin
 irritation and itching
Hazardous Substances: Routes of Exposure

• The eyes are organs that are sensitive to irritants.

 few substances are harmless in contact with
the eyes
 most substances are painful and irritating
 a considerable number are capable of causing
burns and loss of vision
• Alkaline materials, phenols, and strong acids are
particularly corrosive and can cause permanent loss of
vision.
• The eyes are very vascular and provide for rapid
absorption of many chemicals.
Hazardous Substances: Routes of Exposure

Skin and eye contact with chemicals

should be avoided by use of appropriate
protective equipment.
Personal Protective Equipment
Hazardous Substances: Routes of Exposure

In the event of skin contact, the

affected areas should be flushed with water
and medical attention should be sought if
symptoms persist.

In the event of eye contact, the eye(s)

should be flushed with water for 15 min and
medical attention should be sought
whether or not symptoms persist.
Hazardous Substances: Routes of Exposure

4. Injection.
Exposure to toxic chemicals by
injection seldom occurs in the chemical
laboratory.
It can inadvertently occur through
mechanical injury from glass or metal
contaminated with chemicals or when
chemicals are handled in syringes.
 Toxicity of Chemicals
 The toxicity of a material is due to its ability to damage
or interfere with the metabolism of living tissue.

An acutely toxic substance can A chronically toxic substance

cause damage as the result of a causes damage after repeated or
single or short-duration long-duration exposure or that
exposure. becomes evident only after a
long latency period.

Examples are: Examples are:

Hydrogen cyanide, HCN Carcinogens and many

Hydrogen sulfide, H2S metals ions (such as
Nitrogen dioxide, NO2 mercury and lead and their
derivatives)
23
Toxicity of Chemicals

1. EMBRYOTOXINS/TERATOGENS
Embryotoxins are substances that act
during pregnancy to cause adverse effects on
the fetus.
Teratogens are chemicals than causes
malformation of the developing fetus.

Examples:
organomercurials, lead compounds,
and the formerly used sedative,
thalidomide, and formamide
Toxicity of Chemicals

2. REPRODUCTIVE TOXINS

Chemicals can affect both adult male and

female reproductive systems.
Reproductive hazards affect people in a
number of ways, including mental disorders,
loss of sexual drive, impotence, infertility,
sterility, mutagenic effects on cells, teratogenic
effects on the fetus, and transplacental
carcinogenesis.
Toxicity of Chemicals

3. ALLERGENS

A wide variety of substances can produce

skin and lung hypersensitivity.

Examples:
diazomethane, chromium, nickel,
bichromates, formaldehyde, isocyanates,
and certain phenols
Toxicity of Chemicals

4. CORROSIVE CHEMICALS
Corrosive chemicals erode the skin and the
respiratory epithelium and are particularly
damaging to the eyes.
Major classes of corrosive chemicals:
A. strong acids and bases
B. dehydrating agents
C. oxidizing agents
Some chemicals, e.g., sulfuric acid, belong to
more than one class.
Toxicity of Chemicals

Corrosive Materials
• Chemical substances that, by direct
chemical action, are injurious to living
tissues or corrosive to metal surfaces
• The degree of hazard associated with a
corrosive material is greatly dependent
upon its physical state (solid, liquid, gas)
• Minor corrosive injury = irritation
Toxicity of Chemicals
A. Strong Acids and Strong Bases
• All concentrated strong acids and strong bases
(alkaline substances) can damage the skin and
eyes.
 Exposed areas should be flushed promptly
with water.
• Nitric, chromic, and hydrofluoric acids are
especially damaging because of the types of
burns they inflict.
• Hydrofluoric acid, which produces slow-healing,
painful burns should be used only after thorough
familiarization with recommended handling
procedures.
Toxicity of Chemicals

A. Strong Acids and Strong Bases

In the use of strong acids and alkaline

materials, ensure that the proper glove
material is selected and safety goggles with
a face shield and any other PPE as
described by the MSDS are used.
Toxicity of Chemicals
• Glove materials (PVA
nitrile, butyl, PVC)
show different
Hand Protection degrees of resistance
to chemicals
• Heavier gloves =
greater chemical
resistance, but less
dexterity
• Thin exam gloves
(esp. latex) provide
almost NO chemical
resistance
• See MSDS for proper
glove selection
Toxicity of Chemicals

B. DEHYDRATING AGENTS
Examples:
concentrated sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide,
phosphorus pentoxide, calcium oxide
• Much heat is evolved on mixing these substances
with water, mixing should always be done by
adding the agent to water to avoid violent
reaction and spattering.
• Because of their affinity for water, these
substances cause severe burns on contact with the
skin.
• Affected areas should be washed promptly with
large volumes of water.
Toxicity of Chemicals

C. OXIDIZING AGENTS
Oxidizing agents present fire and explosion
hazards on contact with organic compounds and
other oxidizable substances.
Examples:
perchloric, nitric, and chromic acids
(also corrosive substances)
The hazards associated with the use of perchloric
acid are especially severe; it should be handled
only after thorough familiarization with
recommended procedures.
Toxicity of Chemicals
C. OXIDIZING AGENTS

 Strong oxidizing agents should be stored and used

in glass or other inert containers (preferably
unbreakable), and corks and rubber stoppers
should not be used.
 Reaction vessels containing significant quantities of
these reagents should be heated by using
fiberglass mantles or sand baths rather than oil
baths.
 Use in a chemical hood.
 Use proper gloves, goggles, and face shield, labcoat
(and possibly apron).
REFERENCES:

http://www.labelident.com/hazard_warning_signs_:_:4697:1:3:0.html?language
=en

^ "Acetone – PubChem Public Chemical Database".

The PubChem Project. USA: National Center for Biotechnology Information.
http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=180.

http://nobel.scas.bcit.ca/debeck_pt/science/safety.htm#glassware

http://delloyd.50megs.com/hazard/labsafety.html

http://www.unb.ca/safety/generalpolicy.html