CHEMICAL LABORATORY SAFETY STOP THAT DOSE! WORKING SAFELY WITH TOXIC CHEMICALS

Objectives

Stop That Dose! Working Safely With Toxic Chemicals: American Chemical Society chemical safety video courses

Important Concepts

• The physiological response to a toxic chemical depends primarily on its concentration (dose) and the duration of exposure.   This dose-response relationship is the basis for modern toxicology.

• The most common route of entry for toxic chemicals into the body are inhalation, ingestion, injection, and eye and skin absorption.

• Some toxic chemicals cause acute (immediate) effects, some cause chronic (long-term) effects, and some can cause both depending on the dose and the duration of exposure.

• Toxic chemicals can attack one or more organs or systems in the body.

• Many toxic chemicals provide no warning, such as a strong odor or color or pain upon exposure.

• All work with acutely toxic chemicals must be carried out under stringent control.   Exposures to toxic chemicals must be minimized or controlled to meet the exposure standards of your organization's Chemical Hygiene Plan.

• Before starting work with toxic chemicals, learn all you can about the chemicals, their reactions, handling precautions, and storage and disposal.    Read the Material Safety Data Sheets, your facility's Chemical Hygiene Plan and Hazard Assessment Plan, and the chemical literature.   Also, consult colleagues and online information services such as MEDLINE and TOXLINE.