Date: Sun, 12 Sep 2004 16:11:14 -0400
Reply-To: chemcon**At_Symbol_Here**JUNO.COM
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Jay Young <chemcon**At_Symbol_Here**JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: the MSDS discussion
Comments: To: pzavon**At_Symbol_Here**ROCHESTER.RR.COM
I guess I'd better get into this and try to be helpful.

there are ways to determine whether or not an MSDS is probably either
defective or reliable: Look for internal contradictions and for
meaningless statements.  As one example, "non-volatile" assertion in one
place and a statement elsewhere that the vapor pressure at ordinary
temperatures is, say, "100 mm."  As another,  "Use with impervious
gloves." with no further clarification.

Several other examples of internal contradictions and meaningless
statements can be found in Chapter 2 of my book, Improving Safety in the
Chemical Laboratory; A Practical Guide, Wiley Interscience, 2nd edition,
1991.  (Excuse the plug.)

Or for the hazards of a chemical in plain English, see the "CLIPs"
published each month in the Journal of Chemical Education

Jay Young

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