Skin contact with chemicals

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. 

All these reactions are best carried out (a) under an atmosphere of nitrogen and (b) with mechanical stirring. General safety precautions should be maintained, namely, the use of eye protection in the laboratory, proper gloves to avoid skin contact with chemicals, and provision of a hood or dry box with adequate ventilation for all chemical manipulations. 

Such a general procedure is described in the National Research Council report, "Prudent Practices for Handling Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories" (1), and other books on laboratory safety provide similar advice (2,3). Briefly, the procedure calls for carrying out most laboratory operations in a well-ventilated area (e.g., a fume hood or a glove box) and avoiding skin contact with chemicals. A more detailed description follows. 

Important reminder Please refer to the safety instructions in your laboratory for the safe handling and storage of all solvents and chemicals. Always wear safety glasses and protective clothing when working in the laboratory avoid skin contact with chemicals and solvents (wear protective gloves ). 

It is pmdent to minimize all chemical exposures. Because few laboratory chemicals are without hazards, general precautions for handling all laboratory chemicals should be adopted, rather than specific guideUnes for particular chemicals (2,10). Skin contact with chemicals should be avoided as a cardinal rule (198). 

Review NIOSH Current Intelligence Bulletin 61, Publication No. 2009-147, A Strategy for Assigning New NIOSH Skin Notations at http //www.cdc.gov/ niosh/docs/2009-147/pdfs/2009-147.pdf. The strategy will help assign risk of skin contact with chemicals. Determine if NIOSH has developed a strategy specifically for an EDC of your interest. For example, NIOSH has a skin profile for BPA at http //www.cdc.gov/niosh/ docs/201 l-144/pdfs/201 l-144.pdf. 

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