When in college in the early 1950's - now retired - I was pipetting some
0.01N NaOH and reached the bottom of the vessel with the result of 
getting 5
to 10 ml in the mouth.  That, I assure you, was the last I ever pipetted 
by
mouth because it burned the tissue and hurt for a few days with some
sloughing off.  I was never taught how to pipet at the time, but thought 
it
would be a quick way to do a transfer.

In the army - 1953 - in a Medical Lab Tech School, I was taught the use 
of a
bulb forthe correct way to use the pipet which soon became a second 
nature
process.

I strongly advocate including in your training to insist that mouth
pipetting SHALL never be used and the correct way taught.  Many 
chemicals
and biomaterials are very poisonous and would kill with a small amount
ingested that way.

Kenneth R. Smith, CIH Retired

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of
Barbara Mowery
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 12:19 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Pipetting rule

Colleagues, 

During our annual review of safety rules and printed mataerials, one of 
my
young colleagues asked me if it is still necessary to include the rule
"Never pipet by mouth." She has never seen it done, and couldn't imagine
anyone who would EVER think of doing it. I guess I could ask the same 
about
the "No eating or drinking" rule.

Any thoughts?

Barbara Mowery 
General Chemistry Laboratory Coordinator 
Physical Sciences Department 
York College of Pennsylvania 
441 Country Club Road 
York PA 17403-3651
717-815-6480
Fax 717-849-1653

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