Chemical exposure chemistry laboratories

Laws regulating toxic substances in various countries are designed to assess and control risk of chemicals to man and his environment. Science can contribute in two areas to this assessment firstly in the area of toxicology and secondly in the area of chemical exposure. The available concentration ( environmental exposure concentration ) depends on the fate of chemical compounds in the environment and thus their distribution and reaction behaviour in the environment. One very important contribution of Environmental Chemistry to the above mentioned toxic substances laws is to develop laboratory test methods, or mathematical correlations and models that predict the environ-... 

A fundamental requirement of the CoSHH regulations is that the exposure of employees to hazardous substances should be prevented, or, where this is not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled. Exposure to harmful materials can occur by inhalation, by ingestion or by absorption through the skin but inhalation is usually the main route of entry into the body. The Health and Safety Commission sets Occupational Exposure Limits , or concentrations of substances in the air at or below which exposure control is considered to be adequate. The values for exposure limits are listed on the Oxford Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory home page (Oxford Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, 2006). Other countries have their own regulations for minimizing risks to users of chemicals and it is recommended that these are consulted before carrying out the tests described here. 

Chemical spills can sometimes lead to injuries to students in the form of inhaling toxic fumes or skin exposure. In all cases, dealing with injuries and effecting a quick evacuation of the area supersedes any other action regarding the spill. Information about how to treat persons exposed to chemicals is presented in Section 2.1.4, First Aid in Chemistry Laboratories. In some situations, calling 911 for emergency medical help is appropriate. 

Corrosive chemicals are common hazards in the laboratory and also in our homes in the form of cleaning agents. Corrosives are defined as chemicals that cause harm or injury by damaging and destroying tissue, such as eyes or skin, at the point of contact or the exposure site (see Figure 5.1.1.1). Table 5.1.1.1 lists some corrosives that may be encountered in the first year of chemistry laboratory experiments. Corrosives can be gases, liquids, solids, or solutions. 

Goggles will not need to be indicated on every chemical label if the Goggle Policy includes proper use at all times when potential exposure may occur. This includes while labs are in session, when research is conducted, and during preparation times. Laboratory pre-lectures and practical exams can be constructed such that there is no potential exposure to chemicals even though the chemistry laboratory is being used. 

A number of private organizations fund biomonitoring programs for research purposes and to assess exposure at the individual level. The efforts of the American Chemistry Council s Long-Range Research Initiative, the International Life Sciences Institute Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (ILSI-HESI) Biomonitoring Technical Committee, and private laboratories that cater to individual requests to biomonitor for chemicals are highlighted below. 

Green chemistry is most easily demonstrated in the laboratory since the theory is put into action however, integration should not be isolated only to the laboratory. As with any chemical theory, the best way to achieve student comprehension is to discuss the theory and then allow implementation in some form. In addition to laboratory exercises, other means of exposure to green chemistry principles can take the form of papers, group projects, or activities that allow students to relate chemistry to societal problems. Quite often the most effective method is to have the students make personal connections between a chemical topic and their own lives. It is only then that they begin to understand the relevance and importance of green chemistry in everyday life. 

Evidence of the necessary scientific competence of the personnel of such a laboratory (e. g., the head of the laboratory) is normally provided by an appropriate university degree in chemical engineering or chemistry. The responsible person must have profound knowledge of the occupational safety legislation, especially of the legislation on hazardous substances, and know-how and experience on risk assessments of workplaces and the interpretation of measurement results in regard to occupational exposure limits. 

Students at the University of South Alabama are currently introduced to computational methods in a five credit hour special topics course. The course meets for four hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory for each week of a 10-week quarter term. This course is designed for students who have completed three terms (quarters) of physical chemistry, so that all the students have had some exposure to quantum chemistry. The object of the course is to expose the student to a wide variety of computational tools that can be used to solve various chemical problems. 

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