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Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2010 15:18:45 -0400
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: John Agar <JAGAR**At_Symbol_Here**DCCC.EDU>
Subject: Re: pregnant student in chemistry lab
Comments: cc: rphifer**At_Symbol_Here**glasmesh.com
In-Reply-To: <B1331E0BABBF2F41ADBB549EF89EA74A033492391CA6**At_Symbol_Here**WITTFSVS.wittenberg.edu>
We make available to any student who requests it a list of all chemicals
and/or microorganisms used in each course. We then recommend that if they
are concerned, they should discuss the list with their physician. Also,
MSDS's are available in each laboratory for all the chemicals used in that
laboratory, sorted by course. The following is the wording we use in our
student safety documents, that are distributed and reviewed during the
first lab session:
"If you are or think you might be pregnant, if you have a lowered immune
response, or if you have any other health concerns, consult with your
physician before performing any of the laboratory activities. A list of
chemicals and/or microorganisms used in the course will be provided upon
request."
Due to student confidentiality and the fact that we are not health
professionals, we do not discuss individual health concerns with the
students, but rather refer them to this statement.
John Agar
Dr. John R. Agar, Jr.
Dean of Mathematics, Science, & Engineering Division
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Delaware County Community College
901 South Media Line Road
Media, PA 19063-1094
jagar**At_Symbol_Here**dccc.edu
>>> "David C. Finster" 8/9/2010 2:54 PM >>>
I am aware that a student who will be taking a general chemistry course
this fall is pregnant. I am writing to the list to seek advice about how
to best handle this circumstance (assuming that one of the options - not
taking the course - is not a preferred option).
(I have checked the D-CHAS archives, and other sources, and found no
particularly helpful answers to this question. This is not really a CHP
matter since the student is not an employee - although we ordinarly use
our CHP as the safety document for students, too.)
So far as I know (but I can check this to be certain) none of the
chemicals used in our general chemistry labs are teratogens. Thus, my
initial suggested course of action is that the student participate in all
of the labs experiments (using all of the PPE at all times that is
recommended for all students.) We rarely use chemical hoods in this
particular course since most of the chemicals we use present no significant
inhalation risk. (We use hoods when there is an inhalation risk.)
If there is some chemical that is, or is suspected to be, a teratogen, I
would advise the student to skip that lab (and have the instructor
determine how to do this without any penalty to the student).
The pathway suggested above seems reasonable and prudent to me. However,
since we live in a world where the consideration of worst-case scenarios
is wise and legally prudent, it seems to me that having the student
consult with her physician (with a complete list of chemicals "in hand")
and having the physician and/or student "sign off" on some reasonable
statement in advance seems smart. Since I would not expect a physician to
be familiar with the teratogenic effects of "all chemicals", I would also
present the physician with a detailed list of the known or suspected
effects of each chemical (extracted from TOXNET) with regard to being
handled while pregnant.
The advice and experience of the D-CHAS group is welcome.
Dave
David C. Finster
Professor of Chemistry
University Chemical Hygiene Officer
Department of Chemistry
Wittenberg University
dfinster**At_Symbol_Here**wittenberg.edu
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