Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2011 15:14:34 -0500
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: "Dr. Jay A. Young" <chemsafety**At_Symbol_Here**VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: Home Safety Presentation

Darrell,
 
There are a few published books that would serve as a source of the kind of household chemical hazard information you identify.  None of those of which I am aware are without error.
 
Among those however there is one that probably  has the fewest errors: "Guide to Hazardous Products Around the Home" published by the Missouri Household Hazardous Waste Project in 1989.  Their phone: 417-889-5000 and Fax 417-889-5012.
 
Alternatively, in your presentation, just tell students how to read the label.  I know of only a few exceptions to this as a good thing to rely on:
 
1. Rust stain remover:  Most of these contain HF and the labels do NOT properly describe the hazards and precautions nor the remedies.
 
2. Some oven cleaner's: Some are simply sodium hydroxide in an aerosol can and the labels do not adequately describe the precautions, hazards, and what to do if you get NaOH on your skin.  (The problem also is that NaOH on the skin is painless so it can sit there and eat away clear in, to the bone, and you won't be aware of anything happening--and the label is silent about this hazard.)
 
3. Borax.  I'll not go into the details but the label on all of the borax containers that I have seen in more than 80 years of experience are silent about any of the real hazards.  For some adults and almost all children under the age of 6 years or so,inhalation of borax dust or spray from a solution produces severe respiratory harm.
 
4. Drain cleaners.  Some labels are grossly inadequate.  The only reliable labels that I know of are those on the products sold under the "Drano" label.
 
Hope this helps a little bit.
 
Jay A. Young
 
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Watson, Dr. Darrell
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 12:22 PM
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Home Safety Presentation

I would like to know if anyone in our group has prepared and give a presentation on Chemical Safety at Home?  If you have sources for information on this topic, I would appreciate it if you would share this information with me.

Darrell Watson, Ph. D.

Professor of Chemistry  

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

Box 8438 UMHB Station

Belton, Texas  76513

(254) 295-4537

dwatson**At_Symbol_Here**umhb.edu

 

Previous post   |  Top of Page   |   Next post



The content of this page reflects the personal opinion(s) of the author(s) only, not the American Chemical Society, ILPI, Safety Emporium, or any other party. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. Unauthorized reproduction of these materials is prohibited. Send questions/comments about the archive to secretary@dchas.org.
The maintenance and hosting of the DCHAS-L archive is provided through the generous support of Safety Emporium.