Toxic laboratories

Vapor Toxicity. Laboratory exposure data indicate that vapor inhalation of alkan olamines presents low hazards at ordinary temperatures (generally, alkan olamines have low vapor pressures). Heated material may cause generation of sufficient vapors to cause adverse effects, including eye and nose irritation. If inhalation exposure is likely, approved respirators are suggested. Monoethan olamine and diethanolamine have OSHA TLVs of 3 ppm. 

Where extreme accuracy is required in the identification of pollutants or in the quantification of compounds that are highly toxic, laboratory analysis of samples is conducted. Highly sophisticated techniques have, for example, been... 

A successful designer of a toxic laboratory will find it necessary to refine most of the elements of the traditional chemical laboratory. Many details which aren t directly associated with the toxic operations will impact on the safety of these operations. Because common laboratory mishaps will be far more serious where toxics are used, it makes sense to invest every effort to preclude such accidents through careful design. 

All drains in a toxic laboratory with exception of those from the toilets should lead to a toxic sump. The toxic sump should be fitted with the wherewithal to permit addition of reagents, agitation, and sampling, as well as adequate indicators and alarms to highlight malfunctions. Valving should be convenient to operate and the system should feature parallel tanks so one batch can be treated while the lab continues to discharge to the other tank. Provision should be provided to pump out contents when untreatable. 

DuBois KP. 1957. The dermal toxicity of Di-Syston to rats. Report no. 2063. University of Chicago, Toxicity Laboratory, Chicago, IL. 

In the absence of adequate human data, EPA selects data from laboratory animals, generally mammals. The animals used most often are the rat, mouse, rabbit, guinea pig, hamster, dog, and monkey. In a typical laboratory animal study, the investigator carefully controls the doses of the toxicant and reduces exposure to other toxicants. Laboratory animal studies also reduce problems associated with heterogeneity of exposed populations. When using these data, EPA must extrapolate from laboratory animals to humans and must account for human heterogeneity. 

Boundary or combination of limits which, when exceeded, may trigger analyst intervention most toxicity laboratories use 2 X the standard deviation of the mean to create warning limits (i.e., one in every 20 tests would be expected to exceed the warning limits, due to chance alone). Volume 1(2,10). 

Coon, J., Glass, H., Sonkin, L. S., Luahbaugh, C. C. (1943). Hydrocyanic acid toxicity studies (University of Chicago Toxicity Laboratory Rep. No. 14, OSRD Rep. No. 1432). Chicago University of Chicago Toxicity Laboratory. 

Goyer, R.A. Mushak, P. Lead toxicity laboratory aspects. In "Toxicology of Trace Elements, Advances in Modern Toxicology, Vol. 2", eds R.A. Goyer and M.A. Mehlman,... 

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