Toxic Chemicals & Lab Safety

1. Toxic Chemicals&Lab Safety Dr. Ramy Y. Morjan Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry Chemistry Department-IUG 2009

2. Introduction • Chemicals are a part of everyone's life • There are five to seven million different chemicals known in the world. • At least 400 million tonnes of chemicals are produced worldwide each year including agricultural chemicals, food additives, pharmaceuticals, fuels for power production, chemical consumer products, etc.

3. Introduction • For the majority of chemicals used and developed, there is no information about their possible immediate or long-term health effects, yet workers are still required to work with potentially toxic substances • In many countries, chemicals are dumped into the environment, often with serious human and environmental consequences. The laws about chemical disposal in other countries are strict, to protect both people and the environment.

4. Introduction • Many workers are required to work - without any protection - with chemicals that are known to be hazardous to human health. • Nearly all workers today are exposed to some sort of chemical hazard. • So it is important to learn as much as possible about the chemicals you work with.

5. Major Hazards • Cultural hazards: such as unsafe working conditions, smoking, poor diet, drugs, drinking, driving, criminal assault and poverty. • Chemical hazards from harmful chemicals in air, soil food and water. • Physical hazards such as noise, fire, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods and ionizing radiation. • Biological hazards from pathogens, pollen and • other allergens and animals, such as bees and poisonous snakes.

6. Chemical Hazards hazardous chemicals cause harm by • being flammable or explosive (e.g., gasoline); • irritating or damaging the skin or lungs (e.g., strong acids or alkalines such as oven cleaners) • interfering with or preventing oxygen uptake and distribution (e.g., carbon monoxide, CO) • inducing allergic reactions of the immune system (allergens).

7. What is a Toxic Chemical? Any chemical which, when ingested, inhaled, absorbed or injected into the body, in relatively small amounts, by its chemical action, may cause damage to structure or disturbance to function

8. Classification of Damage Local Damage- affects only the exposed part. Contact through absorption, inhalation, ingestion, or injection Systemic Damage - effect of a substance after absorption the bloodstream. Absorption may take place through the skin, stomach, or lungs.

9. Acute & Chronic damages • Acute toxicity - victim becomes ill or injured after “short exposure” • sometimes just a few moments • Chronic toxicity - effects of a toxicant on a body over a long period, sometimes several years • Effects may not be noticed until the damage is too far advanced to correct.

10. types of damage caused by a toxic chemical • Damage to biological structure • Disturbance of biological function • Damaging both structure and function

12. Viktor Yushchenko(Before and After)

14. Inhalation lungs Ingestion mouth Injection puncture wound Absorption skin Routes of Chemical Entry

15. Depending on the chemical, we could potentially eat toxic food.

16. Categories of Toxic Chemicals • Toxics: poisons; usually cause systemic damage • Reactives: react chemically with everyday substances • Corrosives: corrode substances including flesh • Flammables: burn • Compressed gases: very high pressure (cylinder) • May or may not contain a toxic or flammable gas.

17. Lab Safety Why is Lab Safety Important? Lab safety is a major aspect of every lab based Science class. Lab safety rules and symbols are needed so that students do not injure themselves or their classmates So lab safety is important to protect you and your Friends whom are working with you in the lab

18. Rules of Lab Safety • Do not eat or put anything in your mouth while working in lab. NO gum, candy. • Do not chew your pen or fingernails. • Wash hands before leaving • Handle glassware carefully • WEAR GOGGLES AND APRON • Report ALL accidents to your teacher immediately, even if you think it is minor.

19. Safety Shower Safety Goggles Lab Safety Equipment Eye Wash

20. Fire Extinguisher Fire Blanket Lab Safety Equipment Fume Hood

21. Flammable Explosive Toxic/Poison Irritant Corrosive Environmental Other Chemical Hazards and Symbols

22. Chemical Hazard Symbols and Definitions • Flammable– Any substance that will burn if exposed to an open flame. • Explosive– A substance that may explode if exposed to heat or flame.

23. Chemical Hazard Symbols and Definitions • Toxic/Poison – A substance that canlead to death if inhaled, ingested, or absorbed by the skin. • Corrosive – A substance that can destroy or burn living tissue and can eat away at other materials.

24. Chemical Hazard Symbols and Definitions • Irritant - A substance that causes inflammation upon contact with skin or mucous membranes. • Environmental - Substances that are harmful to the environment. They must be disposed of properly, not washed down the drain.

25. Accidents and Injuries • Report ALL accidents and injuries to your teacher immediately!!! • Be aware of safety hazards associated with each chemical you use. • Eye accident – Wash the eye with copious amounts of water for at least 15 min. • Fire Burns – Stop, Drop, and be covered with a fire blanket or soaked with water. Do not remove clothing stuck to victim. Get medical attention immediately.

26. Waste Disposal • First ask your teacher where/how to dispose of waste. • Never pour anything down the drain unless you are told to do so. • A waste bottle will be supplied for substance that cannot go down the drain

27. Reasons for proper waste disposal • Hazardous chemicals down the drain can lead to pollution of ground water, lakes, rivers, etc. • Plants and animals will die if they are exposed to hazardous chemical waste. • Serious health problems will become present in people if hazardous waste finds its way into drinking water.

28. First Aid • INFORM INSTRUCTOR OF ANY INJURY NO MATTER HOW SMALL! • Minor burns: hold under cold running water • Minor cuts: rinse under cold running water

29. Material Safety Data Sheets(MSDS) • Material Safety Data Sheets • are used to obtain hazard information; including physical hazards and health hazards • describe the physical and chemical properties • recommend precautions for handling, storage and disposal Note: Always read the MSDS before working with a chemical

30. Material Safety Data Sheets • If you are unable to find a MSDS for a particular material, contact the manufacturer (contact info is found on primary chemical container label). • MSDS’s for the chemicals present in the laboratory must be maintained by the laboratory and made readily available to individuals working therein. • Laboratories that ship chemicals must also ship the corresponding MSDS’s with the chemicals.

31. Container Labeling There are two types of containers, each is labeled differently Primary Containers The container which was shipped from the manufacturer and bears the manufacturer’s label. Secondary Containers The container which holds the decanted contents of a primary container and bears a label made by the lab.

32. Primary Chemical Container Labels MUST NOT BE: • Removed • Refaced • Scribbled out/written over Note: Pay attention to expiration dates found on chemical container labels. Once emptied, primary chemical containers must be properly discarded.

33. Secondary Chemical Container Labels • Secondary Chemical Container Labels MUST HAVE: • The content’s chemical name (non abbreviated) • Indication of relative hazards of the contents i.e. (flammable, reactive, oxidizer, corrosive, target organs, etc.) The following label would qualify as a Secondary Chemical Container Label, if filled out properly:

34. Hazard Warning System The System is used to rate hazards on Primary and Secondary Container Labels • Blue – Health Hazard • Red – Flammability • Yellow – Reactivity • White – Contact Hazard (numbers indicate contact hazard with skin, W indicates water contact hazard and OX indicates oxidizer) Rating system is from “0” to “4”. “0” indicating no hazard and “4” indicating severe hazard (can be lethal etc.)

35. Labeling All chemical containers must belabeled and legible Improper Labeling

36. Chemical Storage • Caution: Place groups of compatible chemicals together. Segregate chemicals that are in storage according to compatibility. • Oxidizers ( hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, perchloric acid, etc.) need to be stored separately from organic chemicals (fuels). • Particularly dangerous chemicals should be isolated in storage (e.g. hydrofluoric acid, pyrophoric materials, etc.) The following link provides access to useful information regarding storage of chemicals: www.stanford.edu/dept/EHS/prod/researchlab/lab/chemstorage.pdf

37. Chemical Storage • Store dry chemicals separate from liquid chemicals. • Shelving used for chemical storage must have a lip or equivalent (glass panel doors don’t qualify). • Oxidizers should not be stored on combustible shelving. Improper Storage – Incompatible chemicals stored together (oxidizers and fuel sources), and no lip, rail, cable, or equivalent

38. Chemical Storage • Store chemicals in accordance with temperature storage requirements. Example: diethyl ether should be stored in a cool fireproof location like a flammable liquids cabinet away from direct sunlight and other heat sources.

39. Chemical Storage • When not in use, flammable liquids need to be stored in a flammable liquids cabinet.

40. Liquid acids and bases are stored in a corrosives cabinet Within the cabinet, the acids and bases should be stored in separate plastic tubs or other compatible secondary container. Chemical Storage Note: A layer of sand should be placed underneath secondary containers. Doing so will help prevent bottles from breaking during an earthquake and will help absorb any spilled chemicals.

41. Chemical Storage • Flammable liquids that require refrigeration must be stored in a fireproof refrigerator, which does not contain any ignition sources. • Food items must not be stored in a refrigerator that contains any hazardous materials (i.e. toxic chemicals, biological hazards, radioisotopes, etc.).

42. Chemical Storage • Liquid chemicals should be stored at or below shoulder level to minimize the potential for liquid spills. If you have any questions regarding storage, contact Jim Workman at 422-6156 (BYU Chemical Management)

43. Un-needed Chemicals • Benefits: • Minimization of accidents, fires, or other events. • More storage space. • Lowered expense (consider - less inventory, storage facilities, spill response measures and equipment, etc.) • Get rid of all un-needed chemicals • Contact Chemicals Management at to get rid of un-needed chemicals. • When ordering chemicals, only order the amount currently needed – don’t order excess. Note: Some chemicals can become more dangerous the longer they are stored (i.e. peroxide forming chemicals like ethyl ether and tetrahydrofuran).

44. Summary: • Following the Lab Safety Rules will help prevent injury Thank You