I grew up and worked in the medical laboratory testing field my whole working
career.
In earlier days reagents used in bench chemistry procedures were made daily as
needed with base ingredients from suppliers like Sigma and others. I've
always been surprised particularly in earlier days there weren't more medical
complications among me and my co-workers from almost daily exposure to
volatile solvents and other raw ingredients used to make test reagents.
However testing with rats has shown there certainly are - complications. Or
they needed tougher rats maybe.
In any event over the years testing procedures and reagents changed and became
way more user friendly. At the same time use of safety precautions like
protective clothing, gloves and the like and ventilation hoods became common
practice. All this - and MSDS sheets too - say to me it's true. There's risk
with exposure.
I give thanks and think we were fortunate. But heed the warnings -
particularly with volatile solvents like those mentioned. Use in open or
ventilated areas.
Dick Matson / Bj8
----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Spidell<mailto:bspidell@comcast.net>
To: WILLIAM B LAWRENCE<mailto:ynotink@msn.com>
Cc: healeys@autox.team.net<mailto:healeys@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2009 6:24 PM
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Shop safety (was Breaking rusted bolts)
I once worked as a lab tech handling dangerous ag chemicals in small and large
quantities. One compound--Phosdrin--had an LD50 of 10; IOW it's
extremely toxic (a couple drops on your skin and you'd be dead in a half-hour
without treatment; i.e. atropine). Another I worked with
frequently--Nemagon--barely registered an LD50; however it smelled vicious and
I usually was pretty careful with it. A couple years later we found
out Nemagon exposure could cause sterility; my 19-year-old son is testament
that I didn't get exposed TOO bad ;)
Don't disregard flammability, either. One of my colleagues looked a bit like
a Frankenstein monster; he'd poured a flammable down the drain which
exploded and burned him severely.
bs
WILLIAM B LAWRENCE wrote:
> The amounts of chemicals we use in the hobby are not really comparable
> to those used in industry and as such the exposures are not usually as
> severe, however to avoid dangerous exposures to chemical products you
> can get Material Data Safety Sheets from the supplier. These will help
> you to understand the dangers of the products you are using and the
> precautions you should be taking to protect yourself.
>
> Acetone was one of the main solvents used in lacquer paints and as such
> lots of people were exposed to it for years and I haven't heard of any
> cancer epidemics related to it. On the other hand there are other
> dangers which may not be related to its cancer risk. Many solvents are
> an inhalation danger and my attack specific organs or cause damage to
> the nervous system.
>
> These aren't reasons not to use the products, but only to know the
> dangers and to take responsible steps to avoid them.
>
> Bill Lawrence
_______________________________________________
Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html
Healeys@autox.team.net
http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys
http://www.team.net/archive
|