DCHAS-L Discussion List Archive
Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2006 13:19:22 -0500
Reply-To: Beth Shepard <bshepard1**At_Symbol_Here**SIAL.COM>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Beth Shepard <bshepard1**At_Symbol_Here**SIAL.COM>
Subject: Re: Chemical lists for schools
In-Reply-To: <20061002150354.72344.qmail**At_Symbol_Here**web35101.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Hello--
While it may be very difficult to compile a list of chemicals that should
be in a high school storeroom, it is much easier to create a list of
chemicals to exclude of minimize. In my opinion, all of the chemicals on
OSHA's Subpart Z list should be minimized or excluded. The Subpart Z list
consists of the chemicals that OSHA considers to be confirmed as a cause
of human health problems (mostly cancer). These conclusions have been
created based upon the human epidemiological studies rather than just
animal studies. Most of them have specific requirements for workers
involved in the production, handling & use of these materials. The
specific regulations can be accessed through the website shown below
(29CFR Part 1910.1000-1096:
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owastand.display_standard_group?p_toc_level=1&p_part_number=1910
All of the chemicals listed in Subpart Z require air monitoring to
quantify the exposure levels, most of them require medical monitoring, &
some of the chemicals require dedicated areas & systems with warning signs
posted to segregate these areas. While OSHA's regulations do not cover
students, I would think they would cover the instructors. But, regardless
of the applicability of these regulations to a school setting, I believe
there is no reason to expose the student, instructors, & other school
employees to the potential health risk these materials can cause,
especially if there is a less hazardous alternative available.
1910.1003 13 carcinogens including 4-nitrobiphenyl
1910.1004 alpha-Naphthylamine.
1910.1006 Methyl chloromethyl ether
1910.1007 3,3'-Dichlorobenzidine (& its salts)
1910.1008 bis-Chloromethyl ether
1910.1009 beta-Naphthylamine
1910.1010 Benzidine
1910.1011 4-Aminodiphenyl
1910.1012 Ethyleneimine
1910.1013 beta-Propiolactone
1910.1014 2-Acetylaminofluorene
1910.1015 4-Dimethylaminoazobenzene
1910.1016 N-Nitrosodimethylamine
1910.1017 Vinyl chloride
1910.1018 Inorganic arsenic (compounds)
1910.1025 Lead
1910.1026 Chromium(VI) (compounds)
1910.1027 Cadmium (& compounds)
1910.1028 Benzene
1910.1044 1,2-Dibromo-2-chloropropane
1910.1045 Acrylonitrile
1910.1047 Ethylene oxide
1910.1048 Formaldehyde
1910.1050 Methylenedianiline
1910.1051 1,3-Butadiene
1910.1052 Methylene chloride
In my opinion, other chemicals to be wary of include those that form
peroxides relatively quickly, are explosive or can be easily converted to
explosives, are highly toxic, are named within the DEA regulation or are
on the DEA Chemicals of Concern list. Some of these categories are due to
lab safety issues, others are due to security/liability issues (how to
keep the chemicals from being misappropriated for illegal uses).
Beth Shepard
Technical Specialist, Regulatory Compliance
Sigma-Aldrich, Milwaukee
Phone: (internal) 6-414-5471
Phone: (external) 414-438-3850 ext 5471
FAX: 414-438-4235 or 6-414-5432
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