Minimizing Exposure to Chemicals

Minimize exposure to chemicals. Do not allow laboratory chemicals to come in contact with skin. Use laboratory hoods and other ventilation devices to prevent exposure to airborne substances whenever possible. 

What is a common way to minimize exposure to chemicals, as a first measure of reducing the probability of... 

Minimize exposures to chemicals. This is always a prudent path no matter what the relative hazard of the chemical might be. Remember that chronic toxicities may not have yet been recognized. 

Analytical chemists use this information in calculating their results in measuring airborne concentrations. Suppose that a chemist measured the amount of the chemical acrylonitrile (CH2=CH—C=N) in a sampling device as being 30 pg. He knew from other measurements that this came from a 15-liter sample of air. He could next calculate the airborne concentration as 30pg/15 liters or 2pg/L or 0.9 ppm. To evaluate the significance of this exposure, the chemist could use the OEL for acrylonitrile of 2 ppm. Thus, the exposure is below the OEL. Nevertheless, it is not that much below the limit and it is prudent to minimize exposure to chemicals, particularly since the determination of OELs sometime changes and the values almost always become lower. 

We have learned methods to minimize exposures to chemicals during laboratory operations. But how can we know whether our methods are effective to prevent or minimize exposures This is especially important to your safety if the chemicals being used are very toxic. Remember that the greater the toxicity the greater the hazard, and the greater the protection that is needed. Perhaps the hood in Incident 6.3.1.1 would have been sufficient for a much less toxic compound, but for a very toxic compound having a very low occupational limit, it was not adequate. 

Minimize exposures to chemicals by wearing and using appropriate PPE and ensuring safety equipment is providing the necessary protection. 

To help the field teehnieians to quickly locate the problematic cathodes and to minimize exposure to chemicals, a visual identification mechanism linked to the HELM tracker system will be developed. 

Minimize exposures to chemicals by selecting the correct respirator to protect against the specific hazard. 

To provide reliable, simultaneous heating of numerous samples, an aluminum culture plate on a magnetically stirred hotplate was used to heat the synthesis solutions. The temperatnre of the aluminum block can be monitored nsing a thermocouple in contact with the aluminum block. This provides safe, stirred heating of up to twelve samples simultaneously. To minimize exposure to chemicals, dilute stock solutions are provided to the student. The preparation of these dilnte solntions use potentially hazardous chemicals including metallic seleninm, trioctylphosphine or tribntylphosphine, and cadmium oxide (12-14) that are easily managed by the professional preparatory room staff. 

Appropriate protective clothing and equipment should be worn to minimize exposure to methacrylate liquids and vapors. Chemically resistant clothes and gloves and splash-proof safety goggles ate recommended. The working area should be adequately ventilated to limit vapors. Should chemical exposure occur, contaminated clothing should be removed and the affected area washed with copious amounts of water. Medical attention should be sought if symptoms appear. Eurther information about methyl methacrylate and other methacrylates is available (141). 

The radioactive isotopes available for use as precursors for radioactive tracer manufacturing include barium [ C]-carbonate [1882-53-7], tritium gas, p2p] phosphoric acid or pP]-phosphoric acid [15364-02-0], p S]-sulfuric acid [13770-01 -9], and sodium [ I]-iodide [24359-64-6]. It is from these chemical forms that the corresponding radioactive tracer chemicals are synthesized. [ C]-Carbon dioxide, [ C]-benzene, and [ C]-methyl iodide require vacuum-line handling in weU-ventilated fume hoods. Tritium gas, pH]-methyl iodide, sodium borotritide, and [ I]-iodine, which are the most difficult forms of these isotopes to contain, must be handled in specialized closed systems. Sodium p S]-sulfate and sodium [ I]-iodide must be handled similarly in closed systems to avoid the Uberation of volatile p S]-sulfur oxides and [ I]-iodine. Adequate shielding must be provided when handling P P]-phosphoric acid to minimize exposure to external radiation. 

AH persons who have occasion to use or handle methyl chloride should be thoroughly instmcted and adequately supervised in the proper methods of handling the substance to prevent or minimize exposure to the Hquid or its vapors and in the proper methods of disposing of this chemical. 

Chronic Health Effect A chronic health effect is an adverse health effect resulting from long-term exposure to a substance. The effects could be a skin rash, bronchitis, cancer, or any other medical condition. An example would be liver cancer from inhaling low levels of benzene at your workplace over several years. The term is also applied to a persistent (months, years, or permanent) adverse health effect resulting from a short-term (acute) exposure. Chronic effects from long-term exposure to chemicals are fairly common. Recognize the PEL (permissible exposure level) for each substance in your workplace and minimize your exposure whenever possible. 

Promotes pollution prevention, the use of safer chemicals through regulatory and vohmtaiy efforts, risk reduction so as to minimize exposure to existing substances such as lead, asbestos, dioxin, and polychlorinated biphenyls, promotes the public understanding of risks by providing understandable, accessible and complete information on chemical risks. 

What has helped me more than anything else is minimizing my exposure to chemicals in food, air and water. I ve started eating organic foods and replaced all of my personal care and cleaning products with less-toxic, unscented products. 

While the guidance provided in this book is designed to minimize exposure to weapons of mass destruction, it will not eliminate the possibility for exposure. For this reason, it is important to understand the general characteristics of nuclear, chemical, and biological agents, the symptoms of exposure, and potential treatment options. For additional details on chemical structure, chemical characteristics, pathology, and field behavior, see References 1 through 3. 

Specialized equipment can minimize exposure to the hazards of laboratory operations. Impact resistant safety glasses are basic equipment and should be worn at all times. They may be supplemented by face shields or goggles for particular operations, such as pouring corrosive liquids. Because skin contact with chemicals can lead to skin irritation or sensitization or, through absorption, to effects on internal organs, protective gloves are often needed. 

Dichlorobenzidine is treated in the workplace as a controlled substance imder OSHA. Therefore, strict requirements have been made to minimize exposure to the chemical in the workplace air and contact with the skin and eyes. Nonetheless, some releases may occur in wastewater effluents. 

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