Teaching Toxicology through a Laboratory Safety Program

Transcription

1 Teaching Toxicology through a Laboratory Safety Program Half a doctor near is better than a whole one far away. - German Proverb Biennial Conference on Chemical Education August 1, 2016 Greeley, CO David C. Finster, Wittenberg University

2 Context: Using LSCS in all courses with labs at Wittenberg Cover all 73 sections distributed in eight chapters: 1. Principles, Ethics and Practice (10) 2. Emergency Response (8) 3. Understanding and Communicating about Laboratory Hazards (6) 4. Recognizing Laboratory Hazards: Toxic Substances and Biological Agents (7) 5. Recognizing Laboratory Hazards: Physical Agents (16) 6. Risk Assessment (6) 7. Minimizing, Controlling, and Managing Hazards (13) 8. Chemical Management: Inspections, Storage, Wastes and Security (7) Sections in book are layered as: Introductory topics (gen chem / intro organic) Intermediate (organic, wet analytical, biochem ) Advanced and research (inorganic, p chem, instrumentation, seminar ) 2

3 Highlighting Sections in LSCS focusing on toxicology Routes of Exposure to Hazards 1 Finding Hazard Information: Material Safety Data Sheets, Safety Data Sheets, and the GHS Concepts in Toxicology Measuring Toxicity Acute Toxicity Understanding Occupational Exposure Limits (OEL) Managing Risk Making Decisions about Safety Chronic Toxicity Carcinogens Biological Hazards and Bloodborne Pathogens Laws and Regulations Pertaining to Safety 3/ Hazards of Nanomaterials 3/4 3

4 Purpose and goals: Exposure to general concepts. Brief readings; brief discussions What we (can) know, and what is very hard to know. eg, How do we measure toxicity? How to use this information in risk assessment and risk management as a prelude to performing an experiment. How reliable and accurate are the data? How do we rely on these data in order to make decisions about safety? Casual reference to factory conditions (with regard to OEL data). MSDSs/SDSs designed for larger volumes/amounts to protect workers. Excellent topics for critical thinking What do we know and with what certainty to do we know it? What do we need to know to make a decision? The Precautionary Principle (EPA, FDA) 4

5 3.1.1 Gen Chem Routes of Exposure to Hazards Inhalation, dermal/eyes, ingestion, injection Factors determining extent of harm: dose, exposure length, state (g, l, s) How should you protect yourself in the lab based on these factors? Triflic acid [trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TA)] 5

6 3.1.3 Gen Chem Finding Hazard Information: Material Safety Data Sheets, Safety Data Sheets, and the GHS Organization of categories: physical, health, environmental Signal words: warning and danger 6

7 4.1.1 Gen Chem Concepts in Toxicology Dose-response curves and concepts Factors affecting toxicity Animal-to-human toxicity extrapolation 7

8 4.1.2 Gen Chem Measuring Toxicity LD 50 / LC 50 poisons thresholds (NOAEL) (uncertainties in data) OELs 8

9 4.1.3 Gen Chem Acute Toxicity Table list 9

10 6.2.2 Gen Chem Understanding Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) Various OELs types ACGIH TLVs OSHA PELs NIOSH RELs 10

11 6.1.2 Gen Chem Managing Risk Making Decision about Safety (First: Risk Assessment) What is safe? Types of laws and regulations Zero-tolerance Delany Clause of FFDCA, 1938 Technology-based Radon, 4 pci/l; 1/23,000 Balancing laws SWDA, TSCA Risk-benefit analysis Burden of proof Manufacturer/provider must prove a substance is safe. Public/user/consumer must prove a substance is unsafe. 11

12 4.2.1 Organic Chronic Toxicity Acute chronic Epidemiology Case study: Hg 12

13 4.3.1 Organic Carcinogens Describing cancer Mutagens Working with carcinogens Select carcinogens 13

14 1.3.3 Seminar Laws and Regulations Pertaining to Safety CFR : OSHA / EPA NRC TSCA 1986 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act 1996: Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act ( Select Agents ) 2007: DHS Chemical Facility Anti-terrorism Standards 14

15 4.3.2 Biochem Biological Hazards and Bloodborne Pathogens Viruses/bacteria chemicals BBPs 15

16 4.3.3 P Chem Hazards of Nanoaterials A new area of concern; unique properties Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube Penetrating the Pleura of the Lung 16

17 Since this is the introduction to toxicology through the lens of a safety program we do not discuss Details of toxicity testing Absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination of toxicants Environmental fate of toxicants 17

18 Teaching Toxicology through a Laboratory Safety Program From: Identifying and Evaluating Hazards in Research Laboratories chemicalsafety/publications/identifying-and-evaluating-hazards-in-research-laboratories.pdf (See Committee on Chemical Safety website.) The Four Stages of Competence, Unconscious incompetence: Conscious incompetence: Conscious competence: Unconscious competence: You don t know what you don t know. You realize you don t have adequate knowledge. You are able to function safely and effectively. You are very knowledgeable and experienced regarding the subject at hand. The goal of this effort in teaching toxicology is to get them from 1 à 2, and a little of 3. Discussion. 18