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Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Toxic dust handling
Date: June 26, 2012 7:41:44 PM EDT
Author: "Debbie M. Decker" 		Next by Date:
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines from Google (7 articles)
Date: June 27, 2012 7:56:06 AM EDT
Author: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety"

From: Samuella B Sigmann <sigmannsb**At_Symbol_Here**APPSTATE.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Toxic dust handling
Date: June 26, 2012 10:22:39 PM EDT
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: <1B4D1665F78352429F7714A6540EB0362942614D**At_Symbol_Here**MBXE-01.exchange.cornell.edu>

Pardon if someone has mentioned Labconco balance hoods as I have not read all the responses to this question. They are ductless, HEPA or carbon filtered, and sit on a desk top. We have one, but I have not set it up yet (It was donated to us, almost brand new!)

http://www.labconco.com/category/balance-bulk-powder-equipment-enclosures

Labconco also has a very good guideline document for dusts in the carbon filter units.

http://www.labconco.com/images/cms/files/LabconcoChemicalGuide.pdf

Sammye

On 6/26/2012 12:41 PM, Ralph B Stuart wrote:
A question has arisen here about the best practices for handling dusts known to be unusually toxic, such as teratogens or mutagens. It appears from google searches that many academic Standard Operating Procedures recommend using these dusts in a fume hood. This seems counter-intuitive to me, as strong air flows around these dusts would seem to create a housekeeping challenge by dispersing the dust around the use area. This could lead to unnecessary contamination of someone's hands as they work with the material. In addition, the ergonomics of performing delicate operations, such as handling dusts, in a hood can be a challenge due to their one size fits all nature.

Prudent Practices indicates that highly toxic dusts should be used in a hood, but that seems to be rolled up in the same recommendation as for handling gases and vapors. It seems to me that dusts present distinct hygiene challenges from gases and vapors. I wonder if anyone has addressed this issue with specific rules that distinguish between these kinds of chemicals?

Thanks for any information about this.

- Ralph

Ralph Stuart CIH
Laboratory Ventilation Specialist
Department of Environmental Health and Safety
Cornell University

rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**cornell.edu

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