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Environmental Health & Safety Newsletter
Winter 2000
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:
EPA Inspections
Safer Household Chemicals
Unusual Outdoor Odor
Don't Block Emergency Exits or Equipment
Can't Touch This
Ten Great Public Health Achievements in the United States, 1900 - 1999
What Are You Taking With You When You Leave the Lab?
Chemical Exchange List
EPA Inspections
Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has pushed to inspect colleges and universities for hazardous materials and hazardous waste regulation compliance. The EPA has inspected major universities such as Stanford, USC, UCLA, Boston University, Harvard and Yale have been inspected by the EPA. Individual departments, laboratories and research areas have been targeted for the use, handling, storage and disposal of hazardous materials. Citations have been issued ranging from civil penalties to criminal indictments. Fines have ranged from $50,000 to $1 million.
The following are the most common violations cited:
- Open containers of hazardous materials
- Unmarked/unlabeled/improperly labeled hazardous material containers
- Improper storage of chemicals
- No annual hazardous waste management training
- Inadequate/outdated Material Safety Data Sheets
- Inadequate/outdated chemical inventories
- Inadequate/outdated standard operating procedures
- Greater than 10 gallons of hazardous waste stored in a laboratory
- Hazardous waste stored in the laboratory for more than 30 days
- Cluttered/unsafe work areas and lack of aisle space
An inspection by a federal, state or local regulatory agency can happen at any time. You should be prepared to answer questions concerning the use of hazardous materials in your area. The Chemical Safety Office has developed an self-audit checklist for EPA inspections. To receive a copy, call us at ext. 1-2663 or e-mail your request to Jim Horne. Other resources and information about regulatory compliance are provided on the Environmental Health & Safety Division Web page at http://www.mcg.edu/Services/EHS/Index.html.
Regulatory compliance, like safety, is a cooperative effort between employer and employee. Civil penalties, criminal indictments and fines can be levied against individual employees as well as the facility for regulatory violations. If you would like EH&S to inspect your area and help you correct compliance problems, call us:
- Biological Safety Office 721-2663/3721
- Chemical Safety Office 721-2663/3721
- Radiation Safety Office 721-9826/9827
- Environmental Health & Occupational Safety 721-2663/3721
Modified from the October 1999 edition of Safety Wave
Safety at home is as important as safety in the workplace. As people are becoming more aware of hazard reduction around the house, they are often bombarded by advertising tactics to buy more elaborate and potentially harmful chemicals to purify their surroundings. It becomes difficult to determine the right thing to do when manufacturers heighten fears of health calamities if one does not use the "new and improved" product.
A recent EPA report concluded that the toxic chemicals in household cleaners are three times more likely to cause severe health problems than outdoor pollution. We need not depend on toxic or hazardous chemicals when safer chemicals are available and less expensive. Such chemicals as baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), vinegar (dilute acetic acid), borax (sodium tetraborate) and 3% hydrogen peroxide are superb at keeping the home clean without endangering people, pets or the environment. These chemicals are far less toxic than what is found in most cleaners. Here are some of their applications:
Baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) — A water-soluble, mildly abrasive crystalline compound that can buffer or neutralize acids (keeping the pH as close to neutral as possible) which enables it to work in a wide variety of applications. It can neutralize the fatty acids of dirt and grease and at the same time scrub the surface without scratching. Any brand of baking soda will do and can be purchased at the grocery store.
Vinegar (4-5% acetic acid)— A mild organic acid that neutralizes basic chemicals (works in the inverse manner of baking soda). Many disease-causing organisms die in the acidic environment of vinegar; making it an ideal cleaning agent. You can use white or apple cider vinegar; both work the same.
3% Hydrogen Peroxide— Hydrogen peroxide is a dilute form of a very powerful oxidizer that causes organisms to "burn up" from too much oxygen. It is an excellent bleach as many bottle blondes will attest. Exercise caution; hydrogen peroxide can irritate tissue. Hydrogen peroxide must be stored in an opaque bottle because it is light-reactive. Peroxide can be purchased at a drug store or grocery store.
Borax (sodium tetraborate decahydrate)— Borax is a naturally occurring compound and is considered non-polluting. It has a low hazard rating. It is toxic if swallowed in concentrated form; and must be kept out of reach of children and animals. It works well as a cleanser and fungicide. You can find it in the laundry detergent sections of your grocery store.
Alone or in combination, these four chemicals are very powerful, yet very safe cleaning products for your kitchen, bathrooms and laundry. Combining these cleaning agents increases their effectiveness without becoming hazardous. This is not true for other chemical mixtures, and in safety considerations, it is assumed that the combination of chemicals yields a more hazardous mixture. This is particularly evident when chlorine and ammonia are mixed. The resultant vapors are potentially lethal. The following mixtures are both safe and effective:
Food cleaners—To clean dirt and residue off fresh vegetables sprinkle baking soda on a wet paper towel and scrub or wash them in a bowl of cool water with 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda, then rinse with clear water. A highly effective disinfectant for food, counter tops and cutting boards is having two spray bottles: one of vinegar and the other of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Spritz fruits and vegetables, counter tops and/or cutting boards, first with one and then the other (the order does not matter). Rinse fruits, vegetables and cutting boards with running water. Wash counter tops with a clean wet sponge. This has been proved to kill virtually all Salmonella, Shigella or E. coli bacteria on heavily contaminated foods and surfaces, and does not affect the taste of food. The combination of the two is 10 times more effective than either chemical alone. [References: Science News 9/29/96; Science News 8/8/98] You can also use 3% hydrogen peroxide in chilled water for washing poultry, beef or pork. To prevent growth of mold on cheese, wrap the cheese in a vinegar-soaked paper towel. The acid inhibits the growth of fungi. Clean your hands of unpleasant odors, such as onion, by sprinkling a small amount of baking soda in the hand, add enough water to make a paste, rub and rinse.
Cleansers for cooking utensils—Clean a food blender by filling it half full of water, adding a teaspoon of baking soda, 1 drop of detergent, secure the top, and turn it on briefly and rinse. On stubborn cooked-on food stains, pour on a half cup of baking soda and an equal amount of vinegar and let stand several hours or overnight. To clean pots and pans, use saturated baking soda as a cleanser. Food-stained utensils may be soaked in full-strength vinegar for 30 minutes and then rinsed in hot soapy water. This works particularly well on stainless steel and chrome. For burned-on food and scorched pots, boil two inches of water in the pan and add a half cup of baking soda. Remove the pan from the heat source and in the morning it should clean easily. To clean baby bottles use baking soda and avoid soapy residue and odor buildup.
Cleaners for appliances — A saturated solution of baking soda works well for cleaning appliances such as refrigerators, freezers and stove tops. To clean ovens, place a cup of household ammonia in the oven (both cold) and leave overnight. In the morning remove the ammonia, sprinkle the oven with baking soda and wipe area with damp paper towels. To keep your dishwashers smelling fresh, pour a half cup of vinegar in the bottom of your dishwasher before you turn it on to clean your dishes. Clean the garbage disposal by pouring 1 cup of baking soda down followed by 1 cup of hot vinegar (heat in the microwave). Let it stand for a few minutes, and flush with very hot water.
To make the saturated solution of baking soda, pour a box of baking soda in a quart jar, fill the jar with water, then shake. Allow the baking soda to settle and use the clear liquid as your cleaning agent. Refill the jar with water and shake, and you’re ready for the next time. When you no longer see any precipitate in the jar, add another box of baking soda.
Drain Cleaner — Clean clogged drains in the kitchen or in the bathroom by pouring 1 cup of baking soda down followed by 1 cup of hot vinegar (heat in the microwave). Let it stand for a few minutes, and flush with very hot water. Using this drain cleaner monthly or so will keep your bathroom sink and tub drain free of hair clogs.
Basin, tub and tile cleaners — Counters, sinks, bathtubs, chrome and any surface that can take mild abrasion can cleaned easily by sprinkling baking soda on a damp sponge and gently scrubbing. Combine the following ingredients in a spray bottle for cleaning wash basins, tubs and tiles:
3 tablespoons baking soda ¼ cup household ammonia 2 cups warm water
Spray the solution on and wipe off with a clean, damp cloth.
If you prefer ammonia-free combine:
4 tablespoons dishwashing liquid 1 cup of saturated solution baking soda.
To clean the bathroom tile, try the following mixture.
¼ cup baking soda ½ cup white vinegar 1 cup household ammonia 1 gallon warm water
Apply with a spray bottle or sponge then scrub with brush if needed and wipe with a clean damp sponge. For grout, mix a paste of baking soda and warm water then use an old toothbrush for scrubbing. Add a little chlorine bleach only if mold is particularly heavy and remember, don’t mix chlorine and ammonia. Wiping the walls and shower doors/curtains with a vinegar-soaked cloth or sponge eliminates mildew, dust and odors. Cleaning mirrors and windows is easy with vinegar and water.
Toilet bowl cleaner — For an excellent toilet bowl cleaner flush the toilet (to wet the sides) and sprinkle borax around the sides, then spray white vinegar over the powder and let stand for several hours. Only minimal scrubbing with a toilet brush will be needed.
Vinegar added to rinse cycle of washing clothes removes soap residue and prevents yellowing. An effective alternative to chlorine bleach in the laundry is 8 ounces of 3% hydrogen peroxide in the wash water.
All-Purpose Cleanser — Make an all-purpose cleaner by mixing:
2 tablespoons borax ¼ cup lemon juice or vinegar 2 cups hot water
Place in a spray bottle and use as you would any commercial cleaner
As with all chemicals, respect and care must be key ingredients to their use.
For safer, more environmentally responsible, less expensive household chemicals (for more than just cleaning) read: Baking Soda Over 500 Fabulous, Fun and Frugal Uses You’ve Probably Never Thought Of by Vicki Lansky, Book Peddlers, 1995, $6.95...
If you have Internet access try the following Web sites:
- www.snow-pond.com
- www.versatilevinegar.org
Information for this article was gathered from Vicki Lansky’s book mentioned above.
Tim Nelken, Hazardous Materials Officer, Chemical Safety Office. Safety is training that eliminates accidents.
Bill Ewing, CIH
Industrial hygienists are increasingly asked to investigate unusual or offensive odors under the rubric of indoor air quality. In November 1999 a pungent urine smell was prevalent in the ground-floor offices of a government building in Atlanta. Office workers were relocated until the odor could be identified and eliminated.
The likely sources of bathrooms and vermin were quickly eliminated as the cause. The odor was emanating from ventilators beneath the windows. The outside air was drawn into the building through slots in the granite building facade. Boxwood shrubbery was adjacent to the air intakes and had the same odor.
A visit to the Atlanta Botanical Garden solved the problem. Master Horticulturist, Dr. Mildred Pinnel, explained some boxwoods (Buxus sp.) emit an odor characterized as that of a well-utilized litter box. This was confirmed by reference to the Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (5th Edition) which cites the "malodorous fragrance" of the boxwood (1). The actual chemistry of the boxwood emissions remains unknown to this industrial hygienist. However, removing the offending shrubs eliminated the problem.
1.Dir, Michael A., Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (5th Edition), Stipes Publishing, Champaign ,IL (1998), P.158.
American Industrial Hygiene Association, Georgia Local Section, Quarterly Newsletter (Dec. 1999)
Don't Block Emergency Exits or Equipment
Is there anything else to be said?
Personal protective equipment protects our eyes, hands and other potentially exposed skin from exposure to hazardous chemical and biological agents. Carefully selected gloves, in particular, can protect hands from many different hazards such as corrosives, solvents and infectious materials. In other circumstances, gloves are used to protect our research materials from contaminants carried on or shed by the skin.
Often, lab workers move from one lab to another or to another part of the building while still wearing gloves. When lab workers leave the lab with gloved hands, it is difficult for other people to determine whether the gloves are contaminated in any way. Concerns have been raised when gloved hands have contacted door knobs, elevator buttons and other common items outside the lab. Many non-lab staff are unfamiliar with the types of materials and procedures used in labs and assume that the main use of gloves is for handling particularly hazardous materials. Non-lab staff are especially worried that they may get an infectious disease or a significant chemical exposure by contacting surfaces outside of the labs that have not been properly decontaminated.
Good lab practice and common sense indicate that wearing potentially contaminated gloves outside of the laboratory is not appropriate. In addition, the MCG Chemical Hygiene Plan and Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan both require that personal protective equipment must be left in the area where it is used. Other protective equipment, such as lab coats, shoe covers, masks and head covers, must also be removed when leaving the lab if potentially contaminated.
Circumstances may necessitate wearing gloves outside the lab (such as transporting infectious materials). For limited situations that require wearing gloves outside the lab, ensure that there is a procedure in place to account for actions that would require contacting surfaces (such as door knobs and elevator button). Also ensure that any items or surfaces which are potentially contaminated outside of the lab are properly decontaminated.
Modified from Lab Notes, October 1999, Indiana University
Ten Great Public Health Achievements in the United States, 1900 - 1999
According to the Center for disease Control these t great public health achievements for this century have added 25 years to the average life span of persons in the United States.
- Vaccination
- Motor vehicle safety
- Safer workplaces
- Control of infectious diseases
- Decline in deaths from coronary heart disease and stroke
- Safer and healthier foods
- Healthier mothers and babies
- Family planning
- Fluoridation of drinking water
- Recognition of tobacco use as a health hazard
Source: MMWR Weekly, April 2, 1999/48(12); 241-243
What Are You Taking With You When You Leave the Lab?
Remove your PPE and wash up before you leave the lab.
If you must wear PPE outside the lab to transport chemicals or infectious agents, make sure you have procedures for preventing contamination of door knobs and elevator buttons.
Don’t wear your lab clothes home; you could be taking something else with you.
To request chemicals listed below, or to contribute to the chemical exchange list, call EH&S, ext.1-2663.
Acetone 3 x 500 ml Acetic Acid 3 lt Acetic Anhydride 1 lt Calcium Chloride 2 lb Isobutanol 4 lt Methanol 2 x 4 lt M-Xylene 1 lt Phenol 2 x 500 ml Propionic Acid l 1t Propylene glycol 1 lt Scintiverse II 4 lt
Exchange chemicals will be delivered to your lab upon request. Chemicals for contributions will be picked up Wednesdays during routine chemical waste collection.
Associate Vice President: James S. Davis, Ph.D.
Editor: Dolly Hobbs
Charles Lamke, EHOS & Biosafety
Phil Maguire, Radiation Safety