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Previous by Date: Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] A mid-winter Lab Safety koan Date: Thursday, February 18, 2016 10:48:11 AM Author: Monona Rossol <actsnyc**At_Symbol_Here**cs.com> |
Next by Date: Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] A mid-winter Lab Safety koan Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2016 11:27:52 -0500 Author: Patricia Redden |
On a societal level, we're still testing chemicals by tasting and smelling them, although these days we call it ingestion and inhalation. Dibromochloropropane was first identified as a reproductive toxin when a group of men in a California chemical plant discovered that none of them could father children. Dimethylaminopropionitrile was identified as a neurotoxin when it caused bladder paralysis in the workers handling it. The flavoring agent diacetyl was identified as a respiratory toxin when workers and at least one consumer contracted bronchiolitis obliterans; most of them died as a result. And we are currently running a huge human experiment with endocrine disrupters. The TSCA reform measures in the House and Senate will help, but only a little and much too late.
Mike Wright
Michael J. Wright
Director of Health, Safety and Environment
United Steelworkers
412-562-2580 office
412-370-0105 cell
See us on the web at www.usw.org
-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Kristi Ohr
Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2016 9:16 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] A mid-winter Lab Safety koan
I have a different perspective on this.
The whole tasting and smelling of chemicals, and other techniques which we would view as egregious violations of safety practices today, were part of routine analysis in the Renaissance, and later even. At that point, there were no other means of characterizing newly discovered compounds/elements. Even after there was a rudimentary understanding of elements and chemical bonding, many wet tests weren't developed until the mid 19th century, and some later. Modern instruments of analysis of course came even later.
I think these folks new full well in many cases that there was a risk to their health, and quite possibly their lives, by engaging in these practices. Yet the advancement of science made it necessary, and so they did it. It was part of being a scientist, and especially a chemist. I think they very much thought of themselves as explorers in an uncharted, treacherous terrain who perhaps might have to die for their discoveries and fame. They definitely had a much greater tolerance of risk than most of us do today because they had to. There were no other options available to them.
The unfortunate thing that happened is that this risk taking with safety became ingrained in the culture, even after other means became available such that it was not a necessity to risk life and limb for science. It some how became tied up with the whole nature of doing science, the fierce independence and need to take intellectual risks, and the aversion to external control or interference. In truth, I think that is only recently really starting to change. In my experience, the generations after the baby boomers seem far less inclined to risk it all for science, because I think they were the first to be taught that it is not expected or necessary, and is in fact undesirable behavior.
Anyways, that's how I've always viewed it. I have a Ph.D. in chemistry, and have been in academia most of my life. So this is all based on my experiences. I'm sure others may have different experiences.
________________________________________
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu] on behalf of Bruce Van Scoy [bvanscoy**At_Symbol_Here**TWC.COM]
Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 8:25 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] A mid-winter Lab Safety koan
Ralph,
Early in my career I ran across a reference book of chemical properties. The test was a peer reviewed textbook considering the properties of organic chemicals. I think it was published in the 50's, but that is from memory only! At the time I found it confusing yet amazing that the chemical properties being described included a description of "Taste". I wish that I would have had the foresight to document the title, author, etc., and obtained a copy of that reference book, since it was readily apparent that organic chemists would routinely taste their results and document their "observations" and absolutely this does tell us something about their risk culture.
My observations/conclusions were:
1) They thought they were practicing science. Show me the evidence that safety was even in their respective vocabulary at that time, except for how to complete a reaction, process, etc. without an explosion. I don't think they knew of or even considered long term consequences. Additionally, I hypothesize that their research was so focused on their respective field of expertise, that they were not aware of the discoveries in toxicology, industrial hygiene, occupational exposures that were occurring elsewhere.
Please notice that this is a hypothesis with no valid scientific data to support, only knowledge of what occurred and I am open to correction!
2) They were not aware of the safety risks or consequences. Consider how much actual circulation of peer-reviewed published articles occurred at that time with the methods used to convey that information. It is an absolute opposite from today with the advent of the internet and almost instantaneous communications!
3) There were no standards recognized, in-place or followed that would have prohibited the practice. Yes, ACGIH existed, and they had published exposure levels for a very limited number of chemicals decades prior to OSHA. This is no-where near close to comparing what these organic chemists were comparing, evaluating and documenting.
Who made the connection between scientific observation relating to occupation hazard or disease at that time? You may want to consider the co-development of the field of Toxicology, in relation to the timeframe!
4) The chemists were following the acceptable practices from their time, and those practices would not be considered acceptable today. We are all continuously learning, while the standards and what is considered acceptable exposure levels change as well (some more than others.) You may want to review the continued progress of the ACGIH TLV Committee to update the TLVs, (caveat, ACGIH member since 1984) compared to OSHA's update of the PELs, application of NIOSH-RELs, or even the German MAKs.
5) See #1. Scientists don't know until they/we learn from their lessons/mistakes.
You asked for comments or insights so I'm providing my observations only.
I would be glad to see the compilation of the results received!
BruceV
-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Stuart, Ralph
Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 10:13 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] A mid-winter Lab Safety koan
I was stuck in the house last weekend due to frigid temperatures and a bad case of the flu, so I managed to catch up on some skimming of potentially interesting books I had brought home from the library. At the risk of revealing my inner nerd, one was "Modern Organic Synthesis in the
Laboratory: A Collection of Standard Experimental Procedures", looking for safety advice being given to chemistry majors in 2007.
In section 1.1.2 on "Material Safety Data Sheets" (in Section 1.1, helpfully titled "Safety!"), the authors note:
"Gone are the days when a chemist could smoke a cigarette in the laboratory.
Arthur J. Birch was photographed smoking a cigar while demonstrating an ether extraction, which is unthinkable today."
End of section; the next section is "Never Taste Chemicals".
The question that came to my mind while reading this was:
Why did the authors feel the need to note Mr. Birch's lab habits in this context?
Does this choice tell us something about the risk culture being established by the text?
(An interesting irony of this observation is that the introductory sentence of the MSDS section advises that caution is particularly warranted for "reactive chemicals, carcinogens and toxic reagents". However, the example they used to illustrate the point is presumably related to the flammability of ether, rather than those particular hazards of the situation)
Anyway, I've been thinking about this question long enough that I needed to write it out and share it before it will go away...
Comments and insights would be appreciated.
- Ralph
Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Keene State College
ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu
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