From: ACTSNYC**At_Symbol_Here**CS.COM
> "Chemphobia" is rampant (look at the number of schools evacuated becaus
e someone smells something that turns out to be cleaning solvent).
Nah. That's not it. Fear is the appropriate response for human beings when
they do not understand. Fear is replaced with appropriate reactions when t
he issues are defined and understood.
What do you really think the public should do? Should they just
believe us when we say a particular odor poses no risk because we have init
ials after our names? They learned through bitter experience not to do that
.
The problem is our failure to include the right subjects in scien
ce in schools from grade schools to grad schools. Every grade school stude
nt can learn about odor thresholds demonstrated with food and common substan
ces. They can learn that there are things that smell bad that won't hurt yo
u, things we like the odor of that are not good for us, and things that have
no odor that can either be innocuous or can kill. A rudimentary understand
ing of dose and risk assessment is the next easy step.
The concept of the TLV and EPA outdoor air quality standards can e
ven be taught in a simplified form to high school students in science. I've
done it. It's not the details but the concept that is important. Besides, i
f high school students have after school jobs involving chemicals, even at M
cDonalds, OSHA requires they be trained about MSDSs. And there is no purpos
e in making MSDSs available to workers if they can't read them.
So please explain to me again, why, why, during Lab Safety traini
ng in most universities, I have to define and explain TLVs, PELs, & EPA N
AAQS?
I've thought about the problem, and the problem is us.
Monona
>With that being said, I do place blame, on the professor who a
uthorized the student to have a key, the admin who gave the key and the EHS p
rofessional who allowed this to all take place under their watch, and this b
lame is criminal.
To state that the blame for this unfortunate accident is criminal
is foolish and unwarranted. A person who is not qualified (such as your
self) should not make such an accusation. No one yet knows enough about the
facts involved to be able to make the kind of assertion that you made.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
You should apologize to everone who read what you wrote.
I feel very sorry for you.
Jay A.Young 