I strongly recommend you look at the Control Banding process as developed by
the American Pharmaceutical Industry.  It was precisely the need to guide
researcher handling of materials of unknown toxicity (but of hopefully
substantial biological activity) that lead to the development of this
system.  

Peter Zavon, CIH
Penfield, NY

PZAVON**At_Symbol_Here**Rochester.rr.com 

 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] 
> On Behalf Of Russell Vernon
> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 1:24 PM
> To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
> Subject: [DCHAS-L] Research chemicals of unknown toxicity
> 
> Dear fellow ACS Div-CHAS members,
> 
> I'm looking for advice on what you tell your people about 
> working with chemicals of unknown toxicity.
> 
> In my current case, I have a researcher who will administer a 
> compound she is getting from a colleague at the EPA to mice. 
> Some ata I have on similar compounds show those chemical to 
> be 'not very toxic' but I can not find any information about 
> this stuff.
> 
> I only half-jokingly suggested she obtain an MSDS from the 
> EPA as they are the supplier.
> 
> I'm inclined to tell them to treat the material as highly 
> toxic and collect the metabolites found in the mouse 
> bedding/feces/urine and handle as hazardous waste. At least 
> until they have more information about the hazards.
> 
> Do you agree? Do you have any particular guidance you would 
> care to share?
> 
> 
> Thanks in advance!
> -Russ
> 
>  Russell Vernon, Ph.D. 
> UC System-wide Field Safety Working Group Chair 
> www.ehs.uci.edu/apps/fieldsafe/index.jsp
> Laboratory / Research Safety Specialist, Integrated Waste 
> Manager and Interim Hazardous Materials Manager Environmental 
> Health & Safety University of California, Riverside 900 
> University Ave. 
> Riverside, CA 92521
> russell.vernon**At_Symbol_Here**ucr.edu
> www.ehs.ucr.edu
> Direct: (951) 827-5119
> Admin: (951) 827-5528
> Fax: (951) 827-5122
> Register now for the UCR Emergency Notification System!
> 

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