<
div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;
margin-left: 0px; ">Date: August 10, 2010 8:02:39 AM EDT Subject: RE: [DCHAS-L] pregnant student in chemistry
lab
I must take
exception to the generalization that it a lab is not safe for
a
pregnant person, it is not safe for anyone.
Consider the relatively common
lab
experiment of making aspirin. Aspirin is safe for most people, but
not
pregnant women.
Ben
Ruekberg
===
Date: August 10, 2010 11:00:18
AM EDT
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] pregnant
student in chemistry lab
I work as an
Industrial Hygiene Chemist so protecting employees from exposure &
over exposure is my main purpose. I had a baby last year and continued
to work in the lab while pregnant & while breast-feeding. I avoided
the use of certain known teratogens (specifically CS2) and double-gloved
when I used anything else. All of my work was performed in a fume hood.
I too took MSDSs to my OB and talked to him & my manager candidly
about the risk of exposing the fetus to anything that could cause
damage.
I used common sense & did what I felt
comfortable with. I think offering the student choices would be the best
route. I'm sure the student can meet the learning objectives of the labs
through other means.
Good luck! Glad to see that you
are being proactive & taking the concern seriously.
Melissa
Ballard
Industrial Hygiene &
Environmental Chemist
Michelin
North America
1401 Antioch Church
Road
Greenville, SC
29605
864.458.1843
