DCHAS-L Archives, Mar 22 2022 - Re: [DCHAS-L] OSHA materials on Karen Wetterhahn's mercury exposure

I attended regional CSHEMA presentation from Michael Blayney in 2015 and I recall the Sigma MSDS Dr. Wetterhahn consulted indicated latex gloves were appropriate. Also, if I remember correctly the chemical was actually synthesized for Sigma by a subcontractor in his garage that used Silvershield but his glove selection was not noted until after the incident. The earliest MSDS I can find is from Acros Revision #4 in 2005, so I don’t have any way to confirm what glove the MSDS suggested.

Also, if you look at the OSHA inspection, Dartmouth did receive a citation against their CHP not being capable of protecting employees from health hazards. OSHA also cited the failure of training under the PPE instead of Lab Standard training.

Jim Wright

(he, him, his)

Chemical Safety and Biosafety Program Lead| ESH&Q

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

15013 Denver West Parkway | Golden, CO 80401

303-384-6647 | M: 720-695-0791

james.wright**At_Symbol_Here**nrel.gov| www.nrel.gov

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> on behalf of Monona Rossol <0000030664c37427-dmarc-request**At_Symbol_Here**LISTS.PRINCETON.EDU>
Sent: Monday, March 21, 2022 4:54:17 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] OSHA materials on Karen Wetterhahn's mercury exposure

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That document is the same as I remember it. And the lines the burnt my cork were these:

"In 1996, while preparing an experiment that involved the use of dimethyl mercury, Professor Wetterhahn spilled a few drops of the compound on her gloved hand. Though the latex gloves she was wearing were believed to be protective, they proved to be inadequate in preventing exposure to this potent form of mercury. Unknown to Professor Wetterhahn, the toxin passed through the glove and was absorbed into her system."

in 1996 I had been regularly teaching and training on gloves for years using the ASTM break through time charts. And Kimberly Clark also had information on their website at that time about the examining gloves not being protective against chemicals. I was training workers in the art and entertainment industries. She was in the chemistry department at Dartmouth for gosh sakes. Where was their training program for not only faculty, but students? How dare they say it the gloves "were believed to be protective?" By whom? And why? It should have been clearly stated that Dartmouth's OSHA Lab Standard training was defective, and it was their faulty she didn't know.

Monona

-----Original Message-----
From: Russell Vernon <russellnvernon**At_Symbol_Here**gmail.com>
To: Monona Rossol <actsnyc**At_Symbol_Here**cs.com>
Cc: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**princeton.edu>
Sent: Mon, Mar 21, 2022 1:37 pm
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] OSHA materials on Karen Wetterhahn's mercury exposure

https://sites.dartmouth.edu/toxmetal/about-us/a-tribute-to-karen-wetterhahn/

On Mon, Mar 21, 2022 at 12:10 AM Monona Rossol <0000030664c37427-dmarc-request**At_Symbol_Here**lists.princeton.edu> wrote:

Certainly do remember it. I wrote a couple articles myself at the time, And I was impressed that Ed Movitz got that OSHA citation so fast. Nice work.

Monona

-----Original Message-----
From: John Callen <jbcallen**At_Symbol_Here**gmail.com>
To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Cc: Ralph Stuart <ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu>; Monona Rossol <actsnyc**At_Symbol_Here**cs.com>
Sent: Sun, Mar 20, 2022 9:03 pm
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] OSHA materials on Karen Wetterhahn's mercury exposure

Jillian,

In addition to Edward Movitz’ attachment, I’m sure you are aware the C&EN had published two articles about Karen Wetterhahn as reference in Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Wetterhahn

In the meantime and although it did not relate to (CH3)2Hg but rather just Hg, I was tangentially involved with the Pymm Thermometer Company and OSHA back in 1981 in New York City. There is still plenty of documentation in the literature on it. I’m sure that Monona Rossol surely remembers this case too!

Good Luck!

All My Best,

John B. Callen, Ph.D.

3M Personal Safety Division - Retired

ACS/DCHAS Founding Member

(312) 632–0195

On Mar 20, 2022, at 18:41, Edward Movitz <movitz**At_Symbol_Here**OLEMISS.EDU> wrote:

Inspection: 300441557 - Dartmouth College
https://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=300441557

Edward M. Movitz

Research and Environmental Compliance Officer Emeritus

Treasurer

American Chemical Society Ole Miss Local Section

P.O. Box 961

Oxford, MS 38655-0961

movitz**At_Symbol_Here**olemiss.edu

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> on behalf of Jyllian Kemsley <jyllian.kemsley**At_Symbol_Here**GMAIL.COM>
Sent: Sunday, March 20, 2022 5:31 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] OSHA materials on Karen Wetterhahn's mercury exposure

[EXTERNAL]

Hi all,

C&EN is working on a story memorializing Karen Wetterhahn's death 25 years ago from mercury poisoning. We requested OSHA's file on the incident, but it was destroyed several years ago per the agency's document policy. Does anyone still have OSHA records from the incident? We are working with Michael Blayney, but I thought I'd see what else might be out there.

Thank you for your help,

Jyllian

Jyllian Kemsley, PhD (she/her)
Executive Editor, policy and content partnerships
Chemical & Engineering News

j_kemsley**At_Symbol_Here**acs.org
M: (+1) 925-519-6681 | Skype: jyllian.kemsley
Twitter: **At_Symbol_Here**jkemsley
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Russell Vernon, Ph.D.

russellnvernon**At_Symbol_Here**gmail.com

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