Ethidium bromide hazards

For use in viability counts, stocks are diluted 1.100 with PBS. Stored at room temperature in the dark. The solution has a shelf-life of at least 2 mo. Hazard warning both ethidium bromide and acridine orange have mutagenic properties, are combustible, toxic, and irritants to the skin, eyes, and respiratory system. Handle with care... 

Buffer and reagent consumption, and hazardous waste generated from the use of radioactive probes and ethidium bromide stain, can be considerable. 

Flammability and Explosibility Ethidium bromide does not pose a flammability hazard (NFPA rating = 1). 

National Research Council. Prudent Practices in the Laboratory Handling and Disposal ef Chemicals. Appendix B Laboratory Chemical Safety. Summaries—Ethidium Bromide, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC, 1995, pp. 310—311. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in the Lab atory—29 CER 1910.1450 available at http //www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show document p table=STANDARDS p id=10106 (accessed August 28, 2009). 

As with the extraction of DNA using the organic method, ethidium bromide is potentially hazardous because the dye is associated with an increased cancer risk. Though ethidium bromide is still widely used for the identification of DNA it is currently being replaced by a new dye called Sybrr green which is much less carcinogenic and can detect smaller amounts of DNA than ethidium bromide. 

Pour the ethidium bromide solution back into its storage bottle. Pour eitough wrater into the staining tray to cover the gel. Wait 5 minutes. Pour the water out of the staining tray into a hazardous waste contairrer and place the... 

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