Chemical Safety Library
Some chemicals used by departments in °×С½ãÂÛ̳ have had a safety alert released by °×С½ãÂÛ̳, or other institutes, indicating that the risk caused by the use of the chemical has or nearly caused an injury.
Safety Services has provided additional specific information on why these particular chemicals are considered hazardous and which control measures °×С½ãÂÛ̳ considers necessary for the chemical to be used safely on °×С½ãÂÛ̳ sites by °×С½ãÂÛ̳ staff.​This information should be taken into account when writing the risk assessment.​
- Cyanide compounds
Most cyanide compounds release the cyanide anion (CN-) within the human body after ingestion, inhalationÌýor absorption through the skin. This anionÌýdisrupts aerobic respiration, the central nervous system and theÌýheart.Ìý
- Ethanol / Industrial Alcohol
Ingestion of alcohol in the short term leads to nausea, vomiting, dizziness, even respiratory paralysis. In theÌýlong-term, there isÌýaÌýrisk from liver cirrhosis, cancers, nervous system disorders, and foetal alcoholÌýsyndrome.​
- Ethers
Ethers areÌýflammable, diethyl ether (C2H5)2O is classified asÌýextremely flammable.​
- Ethidium Bromide​
Ethidium bromide is a frameshift mutagen (causes changes to DNA) and intercalating agent (acts likeÌýinsertion mutations). Although evidence shows that when appliedÌýin vitroÌýit is a mutagen, contact withÌýmammalian cells in other circumstance requires higher concentrations than that used in labs to cause anÌýimmediate risk to humans.Ìý​
It is a risk to the environment.
It is toxic by inhalation.Ìý​
- Filament Material for 3D printers​
At this time there is a concern, but no definitive evidence, that inhaling the fumes and particles from a 3DÌýprinter may present a health risk. There has not been sufficient testing done to understand anyÌýlong termÌýhealth effect, but it is believedÌýthose with respiratory health issue including asthma would be most at risk.
- Hydrofluoric Acid
Hydrofluoric acid (HF), as a liquid, is a contact poison, causing deep and painful chemicals burns that canÌýlead to tissue death.​
As a gas, it is an acute poisonÌýtheÌýmay cause immediate and permeant damage to the lungs and eyes​
Once in the body, it will interfere with calcium metabolism and can cause systemic toxicity and may lead toÌýdeath.​
- Lead
Lead (Pb) is a known neurotoxin and can pose other significant chronic health effects, such as reproductiveÌýand digestive problems, memory and concentration problems, muscle and joint pain.
- Liquid Nitrogen
Liquid nitrogen’s volume expands by 1: 650 from liquid to gas at room temperature. This results in theÌýexplosive qualities that nitrogen demonstrates in vials and other containers, that is not immediatelyÌýrecognisable from reading the Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
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The character from Alice in Wonderland, the Mad Hatter, may derive from the health risk that mercuryÌýpresents.ÌýErethism, also known asÌýErethism MercurialisÌýor mad hatter disease is a neurological disorderÌýwhich affects the whole central nervous system caused by mercury poisoning.​
- Nitrogen Triiodide (NI3)​
Nitrogen triiodide is an inorganic compound which is aÌýcontact explosive, that reacts violently to exposure to a relatively small amount of energy including friction, pressure, sound, light ²¹²Ô»åÌýαÌý(alpha) radiation. TheÌýexplosion is usually a loud, sharp sound.​
- Nitromethane
Nitromethane (CH3NO3) is an energeticÌý±ð³æ±è±ô´Ç²õ¾±±¹±ðÌýgreater than TNT (2,4,6,- Trinitrotoluene) at above normalÌýtemperature or pressure. At room temperature and pressure,Ìýit isÌý´Ú±ô²¹³¾³¾²¹²ú±ô±ðÌýrather than explosive.​
- Phenol (carbolic acid or hydroxybenzene)​
Phenol is extremelyÌý±è´Ç¾±²õ´Ç²Ô´Ç³Ü²õÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýcorrosive. It can be absorbed across intact skin. As it initially may haveÌýanaesthetic effects, the phenol may cause extensive tissue damage before the casualty feels any pain.ÌýDeaths have been reported for exposures of 25% or more of body surface area​.
- Picric Acid
Picric acid (2,4,6-trinitrophenol) is explosive when allowed to dry out. The crystals that form are a Class 1Ìý±ð³æ±è±ô´Ç²õ¾±±¹±ðÌýand highly sensitive to shock, heat and friction.​
​If not stored in accordance to the reactive, compatibility tables, the resultant crystals may be picrate saltsÌýthat have an even greaterÌýexplosivity, e.g. lead, copper, zinc.​
- Thiols
Thiols orÌýmercaptan, although toxic are often not dangerous in the quantities used in experiments.ÌýHowever, thiols are odorants and are detectable to the human nose at as little as 2-parts per billion. AtÌýthese concentrations, there are unlikely to cause chronic health problems but are classified as offensiveÌýdue to the stench.
- Welding fumes
The specific hazards depend on what is being welded and the method of welding is being used however since February 2019 (HSE bulletin No STSU1 -2019) it has been accepted in the UK that there is sufficient evidence that exposure to any welding fume, including mild steel welding fume, can causeÌýlung cancerÌýand there is limited evidence to link inhalation of the fumes toÌýkidney cancer.​
Last updated: Tuesday, June 23, 2020
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