The lab is an area of scientific activity and as such it houses hazardous chemicals. It is also the site of dangerous procedures. Some of these chemicals and procedures are part of industry or they may be relevant to scientific experimentation. They require that lab staff observe safety precautions. One of these is the installation and use of laboratory fume hoods, which should be obligatory in all labs in San Antonio TX.
The design and operation of the lab fume hood is almost the same as a kitchen extractor hood. As the name suggests, the lab hood extracts toxic fumes from the lab environment and sends them outside. However, the lab hood is sometimes more sophisticated in that it also filters the air and sends it back into the reaction chamber or the lab. This sounds unnecessary but it matters where the reaction or experiment requires a stable atmospheric temperature.
Modern chemistry includes a large range of hazardous chemicals. Trained staff are going to know what these are, and they should also be familiar with those chemicals that are used in their specific line of work. They should be versed in the precautions surrounding experiments, or where their task is to identify unknown substances.
One example of a hazardous situation involving vapor is mercury. Mercury is actually a metal, like any other, but it melts at room temperature, which is why it has a liquid form in everyday applications. However, it also gives off a tiny amount of mercury vapor in its molten form, which can be inhaled and which is highly toxic.
Mercury causes permanent damage to the nervous system, and this is one of its most serious symptoms. It can also cause death, as was witnessed in Japan, where mercury polluted the coastal waters and poisoned a large number of people. There were roughly 50 fatalities. The condition that mercury causes was named Minimata after this specific incident.
Caustic soda is a more common threat in industry. Its scientific name is sodium hydroxide. It gives off fine dust when it is handled too roughly. This dust is as corrosive as the powder and damages the breathing system, which can in turn lead to cancer. Where it comes into contact with the skin, it is soluble in human sweat. Once it dissolves in the sweat, it starts to eat into the skin and underlying flesh.
A more obvious hazard is sodium hydroxide (caustic soda). This is a heavy duty corrosive chemical that is used in industry. It is typically marketed in powder form, but if the powder is not handled sensitively, it gives off a fine vapor. This vapor can be breathed in. Once it comes into contact with the interior of the respiratory system it corrodes the tissue there, even in the lungs. This can cause lung cancer. On the skin, it forms a solution with sweat which destroys the skin and the tissue underneath.
If a worker has the attitude that a chemical has no effect on them or that they are "used to" it, they should be reprimanded. This attitude is inappropriate. Noxious gases are insidious in their effect on staff in that they might not be detected or seem significant for some time, even though they are poisoning the workers who are inhaling them. All safety measures should be observed at all times. So, where a fume hood is needed, it should always be installed.
The design and operation of the lab fume hood is almost the same as a kitchen extractor hood. As the name suggests, the lab hood extracts toxic fumes from the lab environment and sends them outside. However, the lab hood is sometimes more sophisticated in that it also filters the air and sends it back into the reaction chamber or the lab. This sounds unnecessary but it matters where the reaction or experiment requires a stable atmospheric temperature.
Modern chemistry includes a large range of hazardous chemicals. Trained staff are going to know what these are, and they should also be familiar with those chemicals that are used in their specific line of work. They should be versed in the precautions surrounding experiments, or where their task is to identify unknown substances.
One example of a hazardous situation involving vapor is mercury. Mercury is actually a metal, like any other, but it melts at room temperature, which is why it has a liquid form in everyday applications. However, it also gives off a tiny amount of mercury vapor in its molten form, which can be inhaled and which is highly toxic.
Mercury causes permanent damage to the nervous system, and this is one of its most serious symptoms. It can also cause death, as was witnessed in Japan, where mercury polluted the coastal waters and poisoned a large number of people. There were roughly 50 fatalities. The condition that mercury causes was named Minimata after this specific incident.
Caustic soda is a more common threat in industry. Its scientific name is sodium hydroxide. It gives off fine dust when it is handled too roughly. This dust is as corrosive as the powder and damages the breathing system, which can in turn lead to cancer. Where it comes into contact with the skin, it is soluble in human sweat. Once it dissolves in the sweat, it starts to eat into the skin and underlying flesh.
A more obvious hazard is sodium hydroxide (caustic soda). This is a heavy duty corrosive chemical that is used in industry. It is typically marketed in powder form, but if the powder is not handled sensitively, it gives off a fine vapor. This vapor can be breathed in. Once it comes into contact with the interior of the respiratory system it corrodes the tissue there, even in the lungs. This can cause lung cancer. On the skin, it forms a solution with sweat which destroys the skin and the tissue underneath.
If a worker has the attitude that a chemical has no effect on them or that they are "used to" it, they should be reprimanded. This attitude is inappropriate. Noxious gases are insidious in their effect on staff in that they might not be detected or seem significant for some time, even though they are poisoning the workers who are inhaling them. All safety measures should be observed at all times. So, where a fume hood is needed, it should always be installed.
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