edited by MIRIAM C.NAGEL Avo" High Schod Avon. CT 06001
News about a Plan for Elimination of Dangerous or Unwanted Chemicals from Educational institutions Jack A. Gerlovich Consultant. Science Education - -~
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Grimes State Office Buildins Des Moines. IA 50319
This paper outlines a cooperative effort among numerous Iowa state wencies in conducting an expeditious and effective identification, redistrihution 0; disposal of hazardouslunwanted chemicals from school science storerooms. A complete description of this summary paper is being published by John Wiley & Sons in "Safe Storage of Laboratory Chemicals," which is scheduled for release in 1984. Following inventory of high school and community college science storerooms, review of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines for handling and disposal of hazardous substances, review of related chemical literature, and disposal testing, a list of 100 chemicals considered more hazardous than their educational value warrants, was compiled (see the table). It was suggrsed that these chemirals should be removed from school scienre labs based upvn age, quantity, availability of altwna:ives, safety equipme&, and tearher experirnre. Through the cooperative effortsofuniversity rhtmisrs, the EPA. the State Dentlnmwr of Envirtmmental Ounlitv (LEO). the s t a t e Fire ~ a k h a l l ' sOffice, and the s t a t e ~ e i a r t m e h t of Education. a teleohone network and redistrihution or disposal plan was designed and communicated to teachers via a diversitv of media. The teleohone response form used bv the cadre of"chemists, when teaciers call f i r assistance in chemical redistrihution or disoosal. is orovided in the figure. Assistance sugges'ted cintkred upon the foilowing techniques: Evaporation Open burning Dilution Redistribution to colleges/ universities, or industry Disposal in an approved landsite Neutralization
Unlabeled containers, or acutely hazardous materials, were referred by the cadre of chemists to the DEQ and fue marshall along with packaging instroctiom to amwe safe transportation of the chemicals from the school to their redistribution or disposal site. T h e DEQ would then arrange for disposal perm i k for materials controlled by certain regulations. Regional tire marshalls would olien arrange for transportation and disposal of the materials. T h e usual disposal mechanism was by open hurning, or remote detonation, according to DEQ giidklines. T h e details of the chemical redistribution or disposal plan are outlined below: 1) Each school would submit a list in writing, or by telephone, of the
unwanted chemicals to one of the orofessionalchemists identified to them in vnrious publications. 'The chemists would then return suggestions to the tpachrn wnrerning safe handling and disposal of thesuhsulnees in question. Suggrstioni would or premised upon the factors outlined in the telephone response form. 2) The list of remaining materials would be processed for dcceptance at a local (approved) landfill. A Special Waste Authorization (SWA)would be issued bv the DEQ to each school for disoosine o f the chemicals with soeeific handline instructions. for disposal. The school would then segregate the chemicals into containers, as instructed, and pack them to prevent breakage during transportation.A field agent from the Fire Marshall's Office would come directly to the school and transport the substances to an approved, remote area for detonationjignitionor burying. Acutely hazardous substances, as defined by the rules of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA),identified as "not controllable" in Iowa would be handled individually by the DEQ or by a commercial disposal company. Due to the small quantities of such substances found in school storerooms, only three schools have had to carry the system this far. Each of the steps outlined was necessary t o protect the health of the individuals who would handle the chemicals as well as to prevent indiscriminant introduction of potentially harmful substances into the environment. As of September, 1983, approximately 400 of Iowa's 800 secondary schools and community colleges have effectively utilized the system, a t little'or n o cost to them. T h e plan
Volume 61
Number 9
Seotember 1984
837
outlined w i l l remain in effect for as long as h e l p i s needed b y local school teachers. Bibliography PipitoncD.et d.,"Safe StorageofLaborataryChemieda:John
Wiley & Sons. NmYork.
1384.
Federal Register,Environmental Protedi0nAgency, Hazardous waste and Consolidated Permit Regulations,May 19,1980. '"NIOSHIOSHA Pocket Guide t o Chemical Hazards." U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. August. 1980. superintendent of Documents, US. Government PrintingOffice, Washington, DC 20402. MeKusich,R. C.,"Prudent PracticesforHandlingHazardous Chemicals inLsborstories," Scienee,Zll,4484, (1981). RertrietedChemicds, CHEM ISNEWS. 117,3 (November. 19801.
Telephone Response Form Date Contact Person School and Address Telephone Number Professional background of contact person (Education degree, Chemistry training, etc.) 0 School Facilities, Equipment Functional Exhaust Hood Sewer System Se~tie Tank ~rbximity to Sewage Treatment Plant Goggles Gloves Apron Face Shield 0 Chemical Data
0 0 0 0 0
Name Physical of Substance State Age
Container Type, Condltton
Quantity
Proposed Action
Preventing Cuts and Punctures from Jagged Glass Tubing Charles W. J. Scaife Union College Schenectady. NY 12308 U n i o n College has offered two-week courses as part of i t s Summerskill enrichment program designed t o stimulate i n terest of s i x t h throueh ninth eraders in narticular subiect areas. Glassworking isualways oflinterest to students, and such a n e x ~ e r i m e nwas t develo~ed for a chemistrv-based course. ~ a g ~ breaks ed occur frequently either whiie breaking glass t u h i n g or while inserting glass t u b i n g i n t o a n d removing it f r o m rubber stoppers. Jagged breaks can cause serious cuts and Dundure wounds. Laboratorv manuals suaaest either n o protkction f o r t h e hands,' proteEting the hands w i t h paper towel^.^ or ~ r o t e c t i n ethe hands w i t h a c l o t h toweP while tubing. A l l laboratory manuals suggest probreaking tection b y a c l o t h towel while inserting glass t u b i n g into or removing it f r o m ruhber stoppers. These methods did n o t seem safe enough for sixth through ninth graders because o f the following disadvantages: (1)students often cannot arrange t h e towel so t h a t the file scratch for breaking glass tubing is clearly visible and between and yet o n the opposite side from their thumbs, (2) a n uneven g r i p o f fingers and thumbs o n the
838
Journal of Chemical F r l ~ ~ c a t i n n
Chemicals Suggestedfor Removal (Dependent Upon Age, Quantity Alternatives Available, and Frequency of Utilization). 2.4-Di~hlompheno~y 1.2-Dibrom03-Chioropropane (DBCP) acetic acid (2.4,D) dibromochioropr* 2-Acetviaminofiuorent Acrylonitrile pane a-Naphthyiamine 3,3-Dichiorobenridine Ammonium (ail salts) perchiorate 1.2-Dichioroethyi ether DDT 4-Aminobiphenyi Dieldrin Anhydrone Diethyi sulfate (cyclothiazide) Dimethyi sulfate Arsenic (Inorganic) 4-DimethylaminaArsenic acid ambenzene Arsenic sulfide Elhyleneimine Arsenic trioxide Ethylene chlwohydrin Arsenic pentoxide Ethylene dibromide Arsenic trichloride (EDB)(1,2Arsenious acid dibromoethane) Asbestos (hiable) 1-FIuoro-2.4,dinilroBarium chromate benzene Benzene Formaldehyde (not Benzidine formalin) (all derivatives) Hydrazine Benzyi chloride Hydrofiuoric acid (chiorotoluene) Hydrogen cyanide Benmyi peroxide (hydrocyanic acid) Beryllium nitrate 8-nathylamine isobulyi mercaptan Ppropiolanine (2-methyi-lBiphenyls propanethiol) Lead Arsenate (all derivatives) Lithium aluminum bischioromethyielhw hydride Bromatoiuene Malathion Calcium carbide 4,4-Methylene bis Carbamate (2-chloroaniiine) (all derivatives) Mercury alkyis Chloral hydrate Mercury cyanide Chiorosulfonic acid Methylchiorc(sulfuric methyl ether chiorohydrin) Monochiomacetic acid l-chioro-2.4dinitr(chlaraacetic acid) benzene 25WP (wenable Nicotine (nicotine powder) sulfate) Cyihion (Malathion)
Nitriiobiaceticacid 4-Nitrobiphenyl (DNB) Nitrocellulose Nitrogen triiodide N-Nitroso Dimethylamine Nitrosophenois(meta and para phenols) Nitrotoluene (ail isomers) Perchlwic acid Perosmic acid Phenanthrene Phosophides (all metal) P~OSOP~O (white, ~OUS yellow) Phosphorous pentoxide (phosphoro~s anhydride) Picric acid Potassium Potassiumarnide P o t a ~ ~ aide i~m Potassium cyanide Silver cyanide Sodium arsenite Sodium aride Thallium (ail compounds) Tetraethyldithiopyr* phosphate (TEDP) Thermite (igniting mixture aluminum filings 8 iron oxide Thionyi chioride Vinyl chloride monomer (chiwoethene) Zinc chromate
glass t u b i n g results f r o m differing layers o f towel between fingers and glass, and (3) a jagged break can still puncture the towel as w e l l as fingers o r band. A safer technique for preventing cuts a n d punctures is reported. After m a k i n g a scratch p r i o r t o breaking glass tubing, moisten a 10-cm piece o f loosely f i t t i n g Tygone t u b i n g w i t h water (%-in. ID X 3/~-in. OD X %6-in. w a l l T y g o n t u b i n g for 6-mm OD glass tubing a n d 3/~-in.ID X %-in. OD X 'Il6-in. wall T y g o n tubing for S-mm OD glass tuhing). S l i p t h e Tygon tubine over the elass tubine with a eentle twisting motion until it extends e q u L y o n eitheFside o f t h e scratch. y h e n grasp the T v a o n t u b i n a f i r m l v w i t h t h e n o w visible scratch awav f r o m you, a n d h r e i k t h e glass t u b i n g in the usual manner. remove the t w o pieces from the T y g o n tubing, a n d t h e ends are ready for f i r e polishing.
in all^,
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Nelson, John H .and Kemp. Kenneth C.. ' Laboratory Experments for Brown and LeMay. Chem~stry,The Central Sctence." 2nd ed.. Prentlce-Hail.. inc . Enalewoad I 1981 n R x - - - - - Cldfs - -, N.-..--.,r.-,,.. Morss, Lester R.. and Boikess. Robert S., "Chemical Principles in me Laboratory." 2nd ed.. Harper and Row, Publishers, Inc.. New York.
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1981 . , n 97
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Shakhashlri, Bassam 2..Haight. Jr., Gilbert P Hanson, Milton P.. and D neen. Glen E.. "Manual for Laboratory investigations in General Chem~sfry."Stipes Publishing Co., Champaign. IL, 1979, p. 296.
