Toxic Chemicals&

Lab Safety

Dr. Ramy Y. MorjanAssistant Professor of Organic Chemistry

Chemistry Department-IUG

2009

Introduction

Chemicals are a part of everyone's life

There are five to seven million different chemicals known in the world.

At least 400 million tonnes of chemicals are produced worldwide each year including agricultural chemicals, food additives, pharmaceuticals, fuels for power production, chemical consumer products, etc.

Introduction

For the majority of chemicals used and developed, there is no information about their possible immediate or long-term health effects, yet workers are still required to work with potentially toxic substances

In many countries, chemicals are dumped into the environment, often with serious human and environmental consequences. The laws about chemical disposal in other countries are strict, to protect both people and the environment.

Introduction Many workers are required to work -

without any protection - with chemicals that are known to be hazardous to human health.

Nearly all workers today are exposed to some sort of chemical hazard.

So it is important to learn as much as possible about the chemicals you work with.

Major HazardsMajor Hazards Cultural hazards: such as unsafe working

conditions, smoking, poor diet, drugs, drinking, driving, criminal assault and poverty.

Chemical hazards from harmful chemicals in air, soil food and water.

Physical hazards such as noise, fire, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods and ionizing radiation.

Biological hazards from pathogens, pollen and

other allergens and animals, such as bees and poisonous snakes.

Chemical Hazards

hazardous chemicals cause harm by

•being flammable or explosive (e.g., gasoline);

• irritating or damaging the skin or lungs (e.g., strong acids or alkalines such as oven cleaners)

• interfering with or preventing oxygen uptake and distribution (e.g., carbon monoxide, CO)

• inducing allergic reactions of the immune system (allergens).

What is a Toxic Chemical?

Any chemical which, when ingested, inhaled, absorbed or injected into the body, in relatively small amounts, by its chemical action, may cause damage to structure or disturbance to function

Classification of Damage

Local Damage - affects only the exposed part. Contact through absorption, inhalation, ingestion, or injection

Systemic Damage - effect of a substance after absorption the bloodstream. Absorption may take place through the skin, stomach, or lungs.

Acute & Chronic damages

Acute toxicity - victim becomes ill or injured after “short exposure” sometimes just a few moments

Chronic toxicity - effects of a toxicant on a body over a long period, sometimes several yearsEffects may not be noticed until the

damage is too far advanced to correct.

types of damage caused by a toxic chemical

• Damage to biological structure

• Disturbance of biological function

• Damaging both structure and function

Viktor Yushchenko(Before and After)

O

O

ClCl

Routes of Chemical Entry

Ingestionmouth

Ingestionmouth

Inhalationlungs

Inhalationlungs

Absorptionskin

Absorptionskin

Injectionpuncture

wound

Injectionpuncture

wound

Depending on the chemical, we could potentially eat toxic food.

Categories of Toxic Chemicals• Toxics: poisons; usually cause systemic

damage• Reactives: react chemically with everyday

substances• Corrosives: corrode substances including

flesh• Flammables: burn• Compressed gases: very high pressure

(cylinder)

• May or may not contain a toxic or flammable gas.

Lab SafetyWhy is Lab Safety Important?

Lab safety is a major aspect of every lab based Science class.Lab safety rules and symbols are needed so that students do not injure themselves or their classmates

So lab safety is important to protect you and your Friends whom are working with you in the lab

Rules of Lab Safety

• Do not eat or put anything in your mouth while working in lab. NO gum, candy.

• Do not chew your pen or fingernails. • Wash hands before leaving• Handle glassware carefully• WEAR GOGGLES AND APRON Report ALL accidents to your teacher

immediately, even if you think it is minor.

Lab Safety Equipment

Safety Shower Safety GogglesEye Wash

Lab Safety Equipment

Fire

Extinguisher

Fire Blanket

Fume Hood

Other Chemical Hazards and SymbolsFlammable

Explosive

Toxic/Poison

Irritant

Corrosive

Environmental

Chemical Hazard Symbols and Definitions

Flammable – Any substance that will burn if exposed to an open flame.

Explosive – A substance that may explode if exposed to heat or flame.

Chemical Hazard Symbols and Definitions

Toxic/Poison – A substance that can lead to death if inhaled, ingested, or absorbed by the skin.

Corrosive – A substance that can destroy or burn living tissue and can eat away at other materials.

Chemical Hazard Symbols and Definitions

Irritant - A substance that causes inflammation upon contact with skin or mucous membranes.

Environmental - Substances that are harmful to the environment. They must be disposed of properly, not washed down the drain.

Accidents and Injuries

Report ALL accidents and injuries to your teacher immediately!!!

Be aware of safety hazards associated with each chemical you use.

Eye accident – Wash the eye with copious amounts of water for at least 15 min.

Fire Burns – Stop, Drop, and be covered with a fire blanket or soaked with water. Do not remove clothing stuck to victim. Get medical attention immediately.

Waste Disposal

First ask your teacher where/how to dispose of waste.

Never pour anything down the drain unless you are told to do so.

A waste bottle will be supplied for substance that cannot go down the drain

Reasons for proper waste disposal

Hazardous chemicals down the drain can lead to pollution of ground water, lakes, rivers, etc.

Plants and animals will die if they are exposed to hazardous chemical waste.

Serious health problems will become present in people if hazardous waste finds its way into drinking water.

First Aid

INFORM INSTRUCTOR OF ANY INJURY NO MATTER HOW SMALL!

Minor burns: hold under cold running water

Minor cuts: rinse under cold running water

Material Safety Data Sheets(MSDS)

Material Safety Data Sheets are used to obtain hazard information; including physical

hazards and health hazards describe the physical and chemical properties recommend precautions for handling, storage and disposal

Note: Always read the MSDS before working with a chemical

Material Safety Data Sheets

If you are unable to find a MSDS for a particular material, contact the manufacturer (contact info is found on primary chemical container label).

MSDS’s for the chemicals present in the laboratory must be maintained by the laboratory and made readily available to individuals working therein.

Laboratories that ship chemicals must also ship the corresponding MSDS’s with the chemicals.

Container LabelingThere are two types of containers,

each is labeled differently

Primary Containers

The container which was shipped from the manufacturer and bears the manufacturer’s label.

Secondary Containers The container which holds the decanted contents of a primary container and bears a label made by the lab.

Primary Chemical Container Labels

MUST NOT BE:RemovedRefacedScribbled out/written over

Note: Pay attention to expiration dates found on chemical container labels.

Once emptied, primary chemical containers must be properly discarded.

Secondary Chemical Container Labels

Secondary Chemical Container Labels MUST HAVE:

The content’s chemical name (non abbreviated) Indication of relative hazards of the contents

i.e. (flammable, reactive, oxidizer, corrosive, target organs, etc.)

The following label would qualify as a Secondary Chemical Container Label, if filled out properly:

Hazard Warning SystemThe System is used to rate hazards on Primary

and Secondary Container LabelsBlue – Health HazardRed – FlammabilityYellow – ReactivityWhite – Contact Hazard (numbers indicate contact hazard

with skin, W indicates water contact hazard and OX indicates oxidizer)

Rating system is from “0” to “4”. “0” indicating no hazard and “4” indicating

severe hazard (can be lethal etc.)

Labeling

All chemical containers must be labeled and legible

Improper Labeling

Chemical Storage Caution: Place groups of compatible chemicals together.

Segregate chemicals that are in storage according to compatibility.

Oxidizers ( hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, perchloric acid, etc.) need to be stored separately from organic chemicals (fuels).

Particularly dangerous chemicals should be isolated in storage (e.g. hydrofluoric acid, pyrophoric materials, etc.)

The following link provides access to useful information regarding storage of chemicals:

www.stanford.edu/dept/EHS/prod/researchlab/lab/chemstorage.pdf

Chemical Storage

Store dry chemicals separate from liquid chemicals.

Shelving used for chemical storage must have a lip or equivalent (glass panel doors don’t qualify).

Oxidizers should not be stored on combustible shelving.

Improper Storage – Incompatible chemicals stored together (oxidizers and fuel sources), and no lip, rail, cable, or equivalent

Chemical Storage

Store chemicals in accordance with temperature storage requirements.

Example: diethyl ether should be stored in a Example: diethyl ether should be stored in a cool fireproof location like a flammable cool fireproof location like a flammable liquids cabinet away from direct sunlight and liquids cabinet away from direct sunlight and other heat sources.other heat sources.

Chemical Storage

When not in use, flammable liquids need to be stored in a flammable liquids cabinet.

Chemical Storage

Liquid acids and bases are stored in a corrosives cabinet

Within the cabinet, the acids and bases should be stored in separate plastic tubs or other compatible secondary container.

Note: A layer of sand should be placed underneath secondary containers. Note: A layer of sand should be placed underneath secondary containers. Doing so will help prevent bottles from breaking during an earthquake and will Doing so will help prevent bottles from breaking during an earthquake and will help absorb any spilled chemicals. help absorb any spilled chemicals.

Chemical Storage

Flammable liquids that require refrigeration must be stored in a fireproof refrigerator, which does not contain any ignition sources.

Food items must not be stored in a refrigerator that contains any hazardous materials (i.e. toxic chemicals, biological hazards, radioisotopes, etc.).

Chemical Storage

Liquid chemicals should be stored at or below shoulder level to minimize the potential for liquid spills.

If you have any questions regarding storage, contact Jim Workman at 422-6156 (BYU Chemical Management)

Un-needed Chemicals Get rid of all un-needed chemicals

Contact Chemicals Management at to get rid of un-needed chemicals.

When ordering chemicals, only order the amount currently needed – don’t order excess.

Benefits:

•Minimization of accidents, fires, or other events.

•More storage space.

•Lowered expense (consider - less inventory, storage facilities, spill response measures and equipment, etc.)

Note: Some chemicals can become more dangerous the longer they are stored (i.e. peroxide forming chemicals like ethyl ether and tetrahydrofuran).

Summary:

Following the Lab Safety Rules will help prevent injury

Thank You