A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific or technological research, experiments and measurement are performed. Chemical reactions which take place in a lab create or break substances and compounds using various equipment and technical procedures.

Today thousands of medical and diagnostic tests and services are performed on a daily basis, even in small labs serving healthcare facilities. These services include haematology, microbiology, chemistry, blood bank, surgical pathology, histology etc. All these tests need to be done accurately and should be supported by high end equipment for reliable and safe experimental data.

Depending up on each case study the functions of laboratory testing are highly varied, and involve a number of separate processes. Labs use large volumes of a few chemicals (e.g. xylene, alcohol, formalin) and small quantities of a large number of other substances. Labs tend to expend many of the chemicals used in testing through evaporation or dilution and disposal to the sanitary sewer.

Both air and water emissions are of concern. Larger quantities of some chemicals may be collected for disposal, or in some cases may be reprocessed for reuse within the lab. Although nearly any chemical could potentially be found in a healthcare or research laboratory, the most commonly found are disinfecting equipment. Many labs have automated chemical analyzer systems. These systems contain many reagent reservoirs and reagents with preservatives.

Common solvents used in a laboratory include xylene, ethanol, toluene and methanol. Sodium azide is often used as a preservative in a variety of laboratory reagents usually at concentrations of less than 0.1 per cent. A range of mercury-containing devices in labs is still not uncommon, sometimes due to the age of equipment or interpretation of laboratory accreditation standards that require mercury calibration equipment. Radioactive materials are generated in nuclear medicine and clinical testing laboratory departments.

The healthcare and research laboratories use numerous hazardous materials, including chemicals and biological agents that present potential hazards to workers, patients, the public and the environment. These can be broadly grouped as chemical hazards which include toxins, corrosives, flammables, reactives and radioactives and biological hazards that includes microbes, animals, plants, and genetically modified agents.

 While these materials may be beneficially used in laboratories, they may also have the capacity to cause inadvertent damage to people (both to those using them and to bystanders exposed to them) and objects in the environment. It is advisable to know what to look for when purchasing or specifying laboratory chemicals, and what to watch out for when using them.

 “Running a research laboratory is a very tough job. One needs to keep labs well equipped and it should be designed in such a way to fully comply with environmental norms and should also provide protection to the researchers. We at USP have state of the art laboratory equipment embedded with advanced and sophisticated technology for synthesizing and analyzing various chemical reactions. We also offer training for students and professionals and do research projects for various pharmaceutical companies,” said, Ashok Dang, Senior Director, Marketing & Technical Services at USP Hyderabad.

Laboratory workers and researchers sometimes in their rush of loading the auto sampler, pipetting, pouring, and mixing for research experiments, may overlook their health and safety precautions and can lead to dire consequences. Therefore one needs to understand and should constantly get updated with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) programmes and recognizing hazards to help identify and minimize many of the common safety and health hazards associated with running a research laboratory.

There are many specific OSHA standards that may apply to research laboratories. Most notable is 29CFR1910.1450, “Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories,” also known as the OSHA Lab Standard. Other standards include hazard communication, respiratory protection, and electrical and fire safety. In addition, there is a ‘general duty clause’ (Section 5(a)(1) that covers all other recognized hazards for which specific standards may not exist, such as ergonomics and exposures to anesthetic gases or experimental drugs while performing experiments in the laboratories.

“Unlike in the western world, majority laboratories and experimental work places in India are not fully equipped with sophisticated and advanced technology. With the advent of new technology available, it is time, for our laboratories to incorporate latest devices so that one can minimize use of hazardous and toxic chemicals but can also be risk free,” opined Ashok Dang.

Risk in labs and precautions
Despite having all precautions, the laboratory environment is hazardous. Nearly every common laboratory technique, practice or procedure carries some risk of exposure. Also there are many possible routes of exposure to consider (e.g. fugitive air emissions, splashing, sharps, and radioactive materials).

Compliance requirements: Certain Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations apply to hazardous materials in the laboratory. OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) requires that information concerning any associated health or physical hazards be transmitted to employees via comprehensive hazard communication programs (See the HazCom page).

The programs must include written, labels, material safety data sheets, employee information and training etc. The written program meets the requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom). Labels must be placed on in-plant containers of hazardous chemicals. Labels are tagged or marked with the identity of the material and appropriate hazard warnings.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS): Employers must have an MSDS for each hazardous chemical which they use and MSDS must be readily accessible to employees when they are in their work areas during their work shifts.

Employee Information and Training: Each employee who may be “exposed” to hazardous chemicals when working must be provided information and be trained prior to initial assignment to work with a hazardous chemical, and whenever the hazard changes.

OSHA sets permissible exposure limits (PELs) to protect workers against the health effects of exposure to hazardous substances. PELs are regulatory limits on the amount or concentration of a substance in the air. They may also contain a skin designation. Currently, approximately 500 PELs have been established (e.g., benzene, carbon disulfide, carbon tetrachloride, formaldehyde). To meet PELs facilities may implement various strategies including engineering controls (e.g., fume hood) and/or personal protective equipment.

EPA regulations for lab chemicals
Certain Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations may also apply to laboratory chemicals. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) provide EPA with the authority to oversee the registration, distribution, sale and use of pesticides. FIFRA applies to all types of pesticides, including antimicrobials, which includes disinfectants and other cleaning compounds that are intended to control micro-organisms on surfaces. FIFRA requires users of products to follow the labelling directions on each product explicitly.

Discarded laboratory chemicals may be a hazardous waste due to its corrosiveness, flammability, toxicity, or reactivity. Hazardous wastes are regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). RCRA specifies rules for hazardous waste generators based on the quantity of waste generated per calendar month.

When hazardous wastes are generated and accumulated in the laboratory, the facility must follow the rules for satellite accumulation.

Satellite accumulation provisions allow generators to accumulate up to 55 gallons of hazardous waste (or one quart of acute hazardous waste) in containers under certain conditions. These rules vary depending on generator status.

Alternative pollution prevention measures in labs
Apart from indicated standards there are also other pollution prevention measures that need to keep in mind to minimize the quantity of hazardous waste generated by the laboratories.

Chemical purchasing: Careful consideration should be given to purchasing chemicals to avoid common problem chemicals and excess stocks. If possible, centralize purchasing of chemicals through one person. Create an authorized use list of those chemicals that can be purchased in the laboratory. Develop purchase guidelines, which include buying chemicals in the smallest quantities needed, or only a one to two-year supply. Select a chemical supplier who can deliver small amounts of chemicals and accept unopened chemicals that are returned, thereby supporting waste minimization efforts.

Purchasing and using non-mercury-containing fixatives in the laboratory and technologies for vital sign monitoring (thermometers and sphygmomanometers) help to reduce mercury pollution. Remember that a chemical’s true cost includes the purchase price plus the cost of proper disposal.

Maintaining chemical inventory: Inventories enable one to determine the existence of a specific chemical, its location, and approximate shelf age, thus helping to control the hazards in the laboratory.

Maintain a complete and current inventory of all chemicals, including location, chemical names, amounts, and dates of entrance to laboratory. Update the inventory when chemicals are purchased or used up, and inventory your entire stock at least once a year.

Establish a policy for restricting the acceptance of donated chemicals unless they meet a specific need during a defined period of time (preferably within a year). If the regulatory authority has a list of prohibited and or restricted chemicals, ensure that these materials are not purchased. Ensure chemical supplier provides an MSDS for every chemical that is purchased, and that it is maintained in the laboratory files.

Storing chemicals: By understanding and following these guidelines and precautions, one can ensure that laboratory’s chemical storage area is safe for use.