From:
Monona Rossol <0000030664c37427-dmarc-request**At_Symbol_Here**LISTS.PRINCETON.EDU>
Subject:
Re: [DCHAS-L] DEHP risk. Was: [DCHAS-L] Yes Yeand Another Question.
Date:
Sep 3, 2024 17:47 UTC
Reply-To:
ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID:
<968831784.1714857.1725385672687**At_Symbol_Here**mail.yahoo.com>
In-Reply-To:
<E60ABAC2-2DE5-4FD6-96C8-E793884873B6**At_Symbol_Here**ilpi.com>
Well......OK for you guys and your uses. But we have people who purchase huge blocks of polystyrene foam and hot wire cut it on a regular basis to make huge sculptures and set pieces. Styrene and benzene are major decomposition products so a little warning up front would make these people more liable to also consider the decomposition products.
And two additional warnings. 1) some of the products sold as Styrofoam are actually a nitrile-containing polymer whose decomposition products don't include nitrogen oxides and cyanide and are not properly listed in the SDS and 2) I have some worksite monitoring lab data showing the benzene even at 72 inches from the hot wire is about 5 times the new TLV of 0.02 ppm.
Monona
That’s a common plasticizer found in all kinds of products which, like many commonly used phthalates, is an endocrine disruptor; see
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5842715/
Prop 65 is well-intentioned, as a warning of this nature should cause the manufacturer and potential purchasers of the products to think about implementing alternatives that do not contain known carcinogens and fetotoxins. And there have been several notable victories in that vein. In practice, it’s a nightmare of blanket CYA overwarnings and disclaimers that provide no context and numb people to the goal of the labelling. For example, we have vendors who put the warning on polystyrene signs and finished products because styrene is on the list.
While it’s always good to limit one’s exposure to chemicals of this nature, if one is being pragmatic, I’d have to say a minimal added exposure from a *potential* one time use (or being in the same room as the kit) in a lifetime of ubiquitous exposure from other sources presents a de minimus added risk. Personally, I’d have no issues with it, but if I had spare time, I might dash an email off to the manufacturer suggesting they find an alternative.
Rob Toreki
LabLocks™ - The first device that can lock out standard laboratory ball valves: https://www.safetyemporium.com/07400
Safety Emporium - Laboratory and Safety Supplies
https://www.SafetyEmporium.comesales**At_Symbol_Here**safetyemporium.com or toll-free: (866) 326-5412
Fax: (856) 553-6154, PO Box 1003, Blackwood, NJ 08012
On Aug 28, 2024, at 6:49 PM, Murphy, Dr. Ruth Ann <000019862d8e7db2-dmarc-request**At_Symbol_Here**LISTS.PRINCETON.EDU> wrote:
Hello, All,
Yes, we are all hopeful Monona and Jack are already much better!
My question concerns the safety of lab first aid kits with the following statement. WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to etc. (State of California P65 warnings).
Thank you in advance.
Ruth Ann Cook Murphy, Ph.D.
Professor of Chemistry
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
900 College Street
Belton, TX 76513-2599
Phone 254.295.4542
Accepting Christ is life's greatest decision; following Christ is life's greatest adventure.
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