Safety Advisories

Safety advisories and other information appear here.

Several of our laboratories use acrylamide (acryl amide, propenamide). A suspected carcinogen, acrylamide is harmful if swallowed, inhaled, absorbed though the skin, or contacted by the eyes.

Some of our laboratory operations involve the use of cyanides (potassium cyanide, sodium cyanide). Cyanides, as with other potentially hazardous chemicals, should be handled carefully.

Several of our laboratories use diethyl ether (1,1'-oxybis-ethane; ethyl ether; ether). With an odor threshold well below exposure limits, it has good warning properties.

Ethidium Bromide (3,8 diamino-5-ethyl-6-phenyl phenanthridinium bromide, dromilac) is a DNA & RNA polymerase inhibitor used in several of our laboratories. It is known to be toxic and mutagenic and may be fatal if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed though the skin.

Many of our laboratories use formaldehyde (formalin, formic aldehyde, methyl aldehyde). A carcinogen and possible mutagen, formaldehyde is highly toxic if swallowed, inhaled, absorbed though the skin, or contacted by the eyes.

Some of our laboratories use hydrofluoric acid (hydrogen fluoride, fluoric acid, HF). An extremely corrosive and irritating acid and a possible mutagen, HF is highly toxic if swallowed, absorbed though the skin, or contacted by the eyes or mucous membranes. Concentrated HF burns covering 2% of the body can be fatal.

FATALITY DUE TO ACUTE FLUORIDE POISONING FOLLOWING DERMAL CONTACT WITH HYDROFLUORIC ACID IN A PALYNOLOGY LABORATORY

Luciano Muriale, Evelyn Lee, John Genovese and Steven Trend

Abstract-A fatal accident involving concentrated hydrofluoric acid in a palynological laboratory is described. Similar deaths due to dermal exposure to concentrated hydrofluoric acid have been reported in the literature. It is evident that rigorous control measures including proper personal protective equipment and first aid are of utmost importance in the prevention of death and injury when handling hydrofluoric acid. Possible factors that may have contributed to the accident are reviewed. Copyright © 1996 British Occupational Hygiene Society.

From the Canadian Journal of Plastic Surgery, Autumn 1997

Procedures for disposing of empty chemical containers, EH&S Feb. 2004

from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, May 1999. This is a PDF file.