Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 09:32:46 -0700
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: "Yu, Alice" <ayu**At_Symbol_Here**AMGEN.COM>
Subject: Re: Number of research laboratories in US?
In-Reply-To: <730BBCA502AC3D4E8517C9CB674ADF220206720D407D**At_Symbol_Here**EXCHANGE22.Enterprise.emory.net>

Hi Ralph

Very interesting question. Here is a condense answer:

In my experience working in industries, most biological labs uses chemicals
. This posts an interesting question in that chemical and biological resear
ch line are being crossed with Biopharmaceuticals and Synthetic Biology whe
re chemistry labs are doing biology and vice versa. I have consulted with a
n academic scientist in the chemical engineering retrofit a chemistry lab i
nto a biology lab so that they can do BSL 2 work. Chemicals are used very f
requently for decontamination procedures, breaking down cell walls, recombi
nant work, etc. We also consider polypeptides like toxin as chemicals. 

There is no official registries of BSL 3 and below laboratories that I know
 of. Here is what I know about the numbers. Most companies have a registrat
ion process for biological hazard usage for anything that is classify as BS
L 2 and above in the BMBL.

- BSL4 labs (those are very limited) - USAMRID, CDC, NIH,a couple of univer
sities.

- BSL 3 labs -  this can get numerous, any company that does vaccines resea
rch would probably have one

-BSL 2 Labs -  Too many (most biopharmaceuticals, most universities)

-BSL 1 Labs - Any place that does biological research

Alice O. Yu, MS, CPE| Sr. EH&S Assoc. | Amgen SF |office: 650.244.2690| mob
ile: 650.333.5397| ayu**At_Symbol_Here**amgen.com| www.amgen.com

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Ol
inger, Patricia L
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2010 7:54 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Number of research laboratories in US?

Hi Ralph,

This is kind of interesting.  I'm curious as to why you are asking.  It was
n't long ago people started asking the same questions about biolabs.  Is th
is something that has come off the tails of the recent incidents at UCLA, T
exas Tech and TAMU?

The biolab question was after there were a few incidents and I believe some
one in congress asked the questions of how many BSL3 labs there were out th
ere and at the time there wasn't a good answer.

The reality is many organizations, especially in universities,  do not have
 a true lab registration program or process.  Something definitely needed.

Patty

Patty Olinger, RBP
Director, Environmental, Health, and Safety Office
Emory University
1762 Clifton Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30322
404-727-5690 office
404-727-9778 fax
www.ehso.emory.edu
________________________________________
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Ralph Stu
art [rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**UVM.EDU]
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2010 9:56 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Number of research laboratories in US?

A random question that someone in DCHAS might be able to help with:
Anyone know of a source of information for how many research laboratories t
here are in the U.S.?
And what percent of these are chemistry department laboratories as opposed 
to related sciences that use chemicals?

I recognize the answers will depends to a large extent on how many of the w
ords above are defined, but pointers to any sources of systematic numbers r
elated to these questions would be appreciated.

Thanks for any help with this.

- Ralph

Ralph Stuart, CIH
Environmental Safety Manager
University of Vermont
Environmental Safety Facility
667 Spear St. Burlington, VT  05405

rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**uvm.edu

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