Environmental Health & Safety Newsletter

Fall 99

Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996

Close Call in University Laboratory

Danger of Phosgene Generation from Unstabilized Chloroform 

Microwave Ovens - Users Beware

MSDS Can Be Lifesavers

Biological Safety Cabinet/Chemical Fume Hood Tips

Hazardous Household Products on Campus

Chemical Exchange List

EH&S Mission Statement
The Medical College of Georgia Environmental Health and Safety Division provides environmental safety to staff, patients, students and visitors. The four departments of EH&S—Radiation Safety, Environmental Health and Occupational Safety, Chemical Safety and Biological Safety—ensure full compliance with local, state and federal laws and effectively and efficiently meet the needs of those who require our services. These services are provided within the highest ethical standards. We continually improve the level and quality of service provided through creativity, teamwork and innovative change.

In This Issue
Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996
Close Call in University Laboratory
Danger of Phosgene Generation from Unstabilized Chloroform
Microwave Ovens - Users Beware
MSDS Can Be Lifesavers
Biological Safety Cabinet/Chemical Fume Hood Tips
Hazardous Household Products on Campus
Chemical Exchange List

Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996
The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 established new provisions to regulate transfer of select hazardous agents. The final rule was published in the Federal Register Oct. 24, 1996, and went into effect April 15, 1997. To comply with the final rule, suppliers and users of select agents that transfer or obtain these agents must register with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The rule also requires CDC to inspect facilities seeking registration to determine compliance with the appropriate safety level requirements.

Unique to this regulation is the authorization to fine individuals up to $250,000 (which would not be borne by MCG or the Board of Regents), or impose a penalty of up to five years in jail, or both. The institution is also subject to a fine of no more than $500,000 per event.

The conditions under which transfers of toxins will be exempt are stated in 42 CFR 72.6, Appendix A: "toxins for medical use, inactivated for use as vaccines, or toxin preparations for biomedical research use at an LD50 for vertebrates of more than 100 nanograms per kilogram body weight are exempt." All but three of the materials listed in Appendix A under Toxins are exempt for biomedical research; Botulium toxins, certain Ricins and Tetrodotoxins are not exempt. If you use, plan to use or plan to transfer any of these three materials, please contact the Biological Safety Office at extension 1-2663 for consultation on registration procedures.
 

A memo has been distributed to all deans, departmental chairs and directors explaining the application of this act to MCG researchers and users of any item listed in Appendix A to Part 72 - Select Agents. A copy of the Appendix was distributed with the memo. If you plan to transfer, obtain or receive any of the listed agents, you must notify the Biosafety Officer (BSO) so we can register you. There are specific applications for each class of select agent. Registration is valid for three years. If you have select agents on site, but do not plan to transfer them off campus or outside of MCG, you needn’t register these agents. For more information contact the BSO at ext. 1-2663. 

Adapted from Lab Notes, University of California, San Diego, July/August 1997, No. 30.

Close Call in University Laboratory
A recent incident in a University of Nevada, Reno lab raises concern for the overall awareness of everyone working with and around hazardous materials. The location and names of those involved are not important but the story is. Multiple factors combined to create a dangerous situation, culminating in a chemical spill. There was great potential for personal injury but fortunately the person involved escaped unhurt.

While performing a routine work operation in a laboratory, an employee, not associated with the lab, needed to reach the ceiling. He didn’t have a ladder or a step stool handy so he chose to use a three-gallon poly pail on the floor close to his work area. The lid, placed only loosely on the pail, gave way under his weight. His boot was immersed in the liquid contents (approximately two gallons) before spilling on the lab floor.

Lab personnel couldn’t immediately identify the spilled material because there were no markings on the container. They assisted the contaminated worker by suggesting he flush contaminated body areas with water or at least remove contaminated clothing. The worker, however, chose to leave campus and went home to change clothes without letting anyone know his name or department.

The material was vaguely identified as hydrochloric acid and the spill was contained with dry neutralizer. EH&S was called and personnel were dispatched to perform the cleanup operation. The worker was later tracked down at home, luckily with no injuries.

Truly, this was a close call with contributing factors from more than one source:

	The lab worker (still unidentified) responsible for leaving a pail of hazardous chemical on the lab floor, failed to properly label and seal the lid of the container.
	Others assigned to and performing work in the lab failed to notice an unmarked, partially open container, obviously in their work area.
	The worker, who failed to use proper equipment while performing his job, left campus without first decontaminating himself (not to mention the possibility of taking contamination home with him).
	No "Safe Work" permit system was in place; the worker could enter the lab and perform unknown work without authorization.

The conclusion is that we all need to be more aware of our surroundings and work operations when working with and around hazardous materials.
Source: Pause for Safety Newsletter from University of Nevada, Reno

Danger of Phosgene Generation from Unstabilized Chloroform
Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles were using a three-year-old bottle of chloroform. They noticed that the people working with the chloroform were becoming quite ill. The chloroform had been properly stored and was stabilized with amylene. Subsequent analysis showed concentrations of 15,000 ppm of phosgene in the headspace of the bottle and a 1.1% concentration of phosgene in the bulk solution.

Very brief exposures (1-2 minutes) to 20 ppm phosgene can cause severe lung injury and higher concentrations can result in death from pulmonary edema. The initial symptoms of phosgene exposure include throat irritation, coughing, chest pain, nausea and perhaps some difficulty breathing. More severe symptoms (extreme difficulty breathing) appear one to 24 hours after exposure depending on the exposure.

A search of literature showed that the generation of phosgene from chloroform was a well-known phenomenon 50-100 years ago when chloroform was used as an anesthetic. It is also listed in warnings on many material safety data sheets for chloroform. However, the MSDSs reviewed indicated that phosgene is generated from chloroform when exposed to flames, electrical arcs, intense sunlight and hot surfaces and not over time from prolonged storage.

Chloroform is widely used in molecular biology as a solvent in organic extraction. This recent incident suggests that over time chloroform can break down and form phosgene in older, particularly unstabilized, chloroform containers. Researchers should purchase stabilized chloroform whenever possible. Common stabilizers include 50 ppm 2-methyl-2-butene, ethanol (0.5 - 1.0 %), amylenes (0.006%), industrial methylated spirits (0.2%), methanol, thymol, t-butylphenol and n-octylphenol. Although amylene is used as a stabilizer, there is evidence that it may not prevent phosgene generation. If unstabilized chloroform is necessary for your work, you must treat it like peroxide-forming compounds: dated when received, used quickly and discarded after a year. If you have opened unstabilized chloroform that has been in the laboratory for more than one year, discard it as hazardous waste. Storing chloroform in a dark place (cabinet) in an amber bottle can reduce the rate of chloroform decomposition. Consider the following recommended actions:

	Unless program requirements prohibit it, you should purchase only stabilized chloroform. Remember, amylene may not provide effective stabilization from phosgene formation.
	You should treat chloroform as a time-sensitive chemical (dated when purchased) and discard it within one year. This is especially true of chloroform that is not stabilized or stabilized with amylene.
	Store chloroform in a dark place (cabinet) in an amber bottle.
	Open containers in a hood and let the head space vent for a few minutes before bringing the container back into the laboratory. If possible dispense chloroform in the chemical fume hood.

For more information on chloroform, contact Chemical Safety at ext. 1-2663.

A reprint from Yale University’s Safety Bulletin, January, 1999

Microwave Ovens - Users Beware
Microwave ovens fit into our rush-rush lifestyle perfectly. They allow us to cook faster and to reheat food quicker, providing us time to rush into doing something else. The problem with our rushed lifestyle is that we don’t take the time needed to learn the proper operation of the time-saving equipment.

Microwave ovens have reduced many fire hazards of regular ovens, stoves and toaster ovens. However, precautions must be taken when using a microwave oven. First and foremost, don’t place aluminum foil or other materials having metal fragments in a microwave. The metal will react by sparking and igniting any combustibles, such as paper wrappings, etc. Minute metal fragmentation (such as staples) may be woven into the paper towels during the recycling process and can cause a problem. Second, set the timer correctly. Users sometimes select hours instead of minutes, creating a situation where the items can be burned before the user is aware of the mistake.

Be aware of who is using your microwave and make certain they are using it properly.

Another thing to consider is the type of container you use in the microwave. Some plastics will melt when the food heats. Cups or dishes that contain genuine metal trim such as gold or silver will spark like any other metal.

If the interior or exterior walls of the microwave are damaged, have it inspected to ensure it is still safe to use. 

Modified from Thomas Jefferson University’s The Safety Observer,Volume 2 Number 3, March 1997.

MSDSs Can Be Lifesavers
A recent incident highlights the consequences of not reading the Material Safety Data Sheet before handling a hazardous substance.

A 17-year-old can of methyl ethyl ketone peroxide was found in a lab. Since the can was in poor condition, the contents were poured into two Bakelite bowls placed in a fume hood with the sash closed. The technician had not read the MSDS for the product, which would have warned about the possibility of this compound forming explosive peroxides.

Several hours later the fire alarm in the building activated in response to smoke from an explosion in the fume hood. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire before the flammable solvents ignited. Damage was estimated to be between $10,000 and $20,000

Although no one was injured, it is frightening to contemplate what would have happened if the peroxide had exploded as it was poured out of the can. Read the Material Safety Data Sheets; they could save your life! For more information, call the Chemical Safety Office at ext. 1-2663.
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Biological Safety Cabinet/Chemical Fume Hood Tips
A biological safety cabinet (BSC) is the principal device used to provide containment of infectious splashes or aerosols generated by many microbiological procedures. When used with good microbiological techniques, BSCs are primary barriers which offer significant protection to laboratory personnel and to the environment. BSCs are designed with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters that effectively remove particulate contaminants. These filters, however, do not remove volatile chemical vapors and fumes. Most BSCs recirculate air within the cabinet and exhaust directly back into the room through a HEPA filter. A few, depending on the type, exhaust totally or partially to the outside of the building. Using toxic, volatile or corrosive chemicals inside a BSC can destroy the integrity of the HEPA filters (thus allowing microorganisms to pass through the filter and back into the cabinet), corrode the BSC and cause serious injury to the user through inhalation of chemical vapors.

Chemicals should be used in a chemical fume hood. These devices exhaust 100% to the outside with no recirculation. They protect the operator from undesirable chemicals by enclosing, capturing or receiving emitted contaminants. The hood exhausts contaminated air away from the worker’s breathing zone.

Excessive clutter in a chemical fume hood or biological safety cabinet can increase turbulence and reduce efficiency in removing contaminants. Minimize the amount of material in the hood or BSC and do not use these devices for storage. Pedestrian traffic in front of a hood or BSC and the movement of arms in and out of the hood or BSC can induce turbulence and can pull contaminants back into the operator's breathing zone. If located near a door, opening or closing the door can also produce significant turbulence and reduce the efficiency of contaminant containment and removal.

Become familiar with the types of protective devices (hoods vs. BSCs) available to you and know their limitations. Learn to use this equipment for maximum protection from the harmful effects of the substances with which you are working.

Fume hoods and BSCs are inspected and certified annually at MCG to ensure proper working order. BSCs should be recertified after they have been moved or worked on. Before moving any BSC, decontaminate to it ensure that workers are safe from hazards.
Modified from Tulane University Medical Center’s Safety Wave, April 1, 1998

Hazardous Household Products on Campus
Many common household products used on campus are hazardous and may harm you or the environment if improperly used or disposed of. Paints and solvents are often flammable. Outdoor products such as pesticides or fungicides often contain very toxic ingredients (such as mercury and arsenic). Cleaning products are often corrosive and can cause irreversible damage to tissue, including eyes.

	Some of the more common hazardous household products used on campus include:
	Painting supplies - oil and latex-based paints, spray paints, paint strippers, paint thinner.
	Gardening products - pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers.
	Auto products - oil, gasoline, antifreeze, diesel fuel, carburetor cleaner, lead-acid batteries.
	Cleaning products - bleach, ammonia, silverware polishes.
	Pool supplies - muriatic acid, chlorine, algaecides.
	Miscellaneous - batteries (alkaline, mercury, nickel-cadmium), photographic chemicals.

On campus, all hazardous chemicals (including household-type products) must be disposed of properly. If you are not sure of the proper disposal method, contact the Chemical Safety Office at ext. 1-2663 for guidance. Never take hazardous chemicals home either for use or disposal. This is illegal and could subject you to fines and other penalties.

Conversely, never bring your household chemicals to work. Appropriate cleaning and disinfecting products are pre-selected for use in MCG Hospital and Clinics and on campus, and can be ordered through the MCG Warehouse. For more information on these products, contact Hospital Epidemiology at ext. 1-2224, or Biological Safety at ext. 1-2663.

Disposal Precautions:

	Hazardous aerosol products (such as spray paint) must be completely empty of contents and propellant to be disposed of in the common trash.
	Never pour hazardous chemicals, including used oil and paint wastes, on the ground or into a storm drain. Chemicals poured into a storm drain may go into nearby tributaries and waterways where they may harm wildlife, fisheries and recreation areas.
	Never dispose of hazardous chemicals into the sanitary sewer. It’s illegal and potentially very dangerous. Corrosive chemicals can eat away sewer lines and cause them to leak. Flammable materials such as solvents and gasolines can form explosive vapors in sewer lines.

Waste Minimization Tips:

These tips can help you minimize hazardous waste on campus or at home:

	Purchase only the amount of material you will use during the shelf life of the product. Many products, such as paints, begin degrading within a year or two. Write the purchase date on the label.
	Use less-hazardous substitutes. For example, use citric acid-based cleaners in place of solvents. Use water-based paints when possible. Consider non-chemical alternatives to pesticides.
	To increase shelf life, properly store all products in a safe, dry place protected from the environment. Store products where they are not accessible to children. Never leave hazardous chemicals on grass or soil.

Modified from University of California’s Flashpoint 

Chemical Exchange List

To request chemicals listed below, or to contribute to the chemical exchange list, call EH&S, ext.1-2663.

Exchange chemicals will be delivered to your lab upon request. Chemicals for contributions will be picked up Wednesdays during routine chemical waste collection.

Director:  James S. Davis, Ph.D.
Editor: Dolly Hobbs
Charles Lamke, M.S.  EHOS & Biosafety
Phil Maguire, Ph.D.: Radiation Safety

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January 05, 2007