Please read Ken Smith note carefully. He burned his mouth. Ken wrote: "I assure you, it was the last I ever pipetted by mouth because it burned the tissue and hurt for a few days with some sloughing off". Ken also wrote: "I was taught the use of a bulb for the correct way to use the pipette which soon became a second nature process". I conclude: with Ken's own experience, learning correctly how to use the bulb and pipette together later, and our own DESIRE to have limited EXPOSURE to chemicals should be more than enough, in my opinion, to NOT teach to pipette by mouth. It is amazing to me that we are still TEACHING this method of transferring solutions from container to container; especially here in the USA. __________________________________________________ Mikhail -----Original Message----- From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Jean & Ken Smith Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 7:41 PM To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Pipetting rule 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 This information is intended solely for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. Any review, disclosure, copying, distribution or use of this e-mail communication by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify us immediately by returning this message to the sender and delete all copies.
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