EH&S News

Environmental Health and Safety

University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Editor: Robert DiCarlo Winter 1998 Vol. 4 No. 4

Inside This Issue

Radiation Safety

Ozone Generators

Winter Storms

Hazardous Waste Update

RADIATION SAFETY

Researchers are reminded to use secondary containment when transporting radioactive materials (RAM). This is necessary to protect you and others from contamination, with possible external dose or internal uptake of the RAM, in the event of a spill during your move. A slip or a fall can easily result in a spill of an open container that you were "just going down the hall with". As a result of not placing your RAM into a tightly covered container you now have a major clean up on your hands and you have lost hours of hard work with your experimental material on the floor!

If your sample container(s) are made of unbreakable plastic and capable of being tightly capped, secondary containment is not necessary. However, this is not always possible. It takes only a few minutes to get secondary containment assembled to properly transport RAM (or other hazardous or valuable materials). Secondary containment can be as simple as an empty ice bucket or Styrofoam box with the lid taped down; and inside the flask or test tube has been covered with parafilm.

Be safe, avoid dose and contamination and save yourself a great deal of work. Always transport RAM in tightly capped plastic containers or in other secondary containers.

OZONE GENERATORS

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a public document assessing the effectiveness and health consequences of ozone generators. These devices are sold to the public by manufacturers who claim they are safe and effective in controlling indoor air pollution. No federal agency of the government has approved these devices in occupied spaces.

Ozone is a molecule composed of three atoms of oxygen. Two atoms of oxygen form the basic oxygen molecule that we breathe. The third oxygen molecule can detach from the ozone molecule, and re-attach to molecules of other substances and cause a reaction.

Manufacturers and vendors of ozone devices often use misleading terms to describe ozone. Terms such as "energized oxygen" or "pure air" suggest that ozone is a healthy kind of oxygen. Available scientific evidence shows that at concentrations that do not exceed public health standards, ozone has little potential to remove indoor air contaminants.

Ozone does not remove particles such as dust and pollen from the air, including the particles that cause most allergies.

Some people believe that Ozone somehow "magically removes" the odors. The fact is that Ozone can mask but does not remove the source of odors.

Available scientific evidence shows that at concentrations that do not exceed public health standards, "ozone has little potential to remove indoor air contaminants."

Health Effects

When inhaled, ozone can damage the lungs. It can decrease the lung function, aggravate asthma, irritate the throat and cough, cause chest pain and shortness of breath, cause inflammation of lung tissue, and increase susceptibility to respiratory infection. Ozone is a toxic gas with vastly different chemical and toxicological properties from oxygen.

Health Standards

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the output of ozone from indoor medical devices.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, (OSHA) adopted exposure limits for workers.
• The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends upper limits.

• Increase in ozone air concentrations
• Any activity that raises the breathing rate
• Certain pre-existing lung diseases such as asthma
• Greater duration of exposure for some health effects

The phrase good up high - bad nearby has been used by The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make the distinction between ozone in the upper and lower atmosphere. Ozone in the upper atmosphere referred to as stratospheric ozone helps filter out damaging ultraviolet radiation from the sun. You can learn more about ozone generators on: Ozone Generators That Are Sold As Air Cleaners

WINTER STORMS

We who live in New England we have some experience with winter storms. We should not get overconfident about our ability to cope. A major winter storm can be lethal. Preparing for cold weather conditions and responding to them effectively can reduce the dangers caused by winter storms.

BEFORE THE STORM

Be familiar with winter storm warning messages made available through the National Weather Service and local broadcast stations. Service snow removal equipment and have rock salt on hand to melt ice on walkways and sand or kitty litter to generate temporary traction.

Other measures for preparing for winter weather includes:

• Make sure you have sufficient heating fuel.
• Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows.
• Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside.
• Have safe emergency heating equipment vailable.
• Install smoke detectors and check smoke detector batteries.

Be prepared in case of extended power outages. Have disaster supplies on at all times.

• Flashlights and extra batteries (DO NOT use candles, which present a fire hazard)
• Portable, battery-operated radio
• First aid kit
• One-week's supply of food (include items that do not require refrigeration or cooking in case the power is out)
• Non-electric can opener
• One-week supply of essential prescription medications
• Extra blankets and sleeping bags
• A/B/C Fire extinguisher

DURING THE STORM

• Stay indoors (if possible) and dress warmly.
• Lower the thermostat to 65 degrees during the day and 55 degrees at night to conserve fuel.
• If you go out to shovel snow, do a few stretching exercises to warm up your body. Also take frequent breaks.
• Keep dry
• Avoid overexertion.
• Cold weather puts an added strain on the heart. Unaccustomed exercise such as shoveling snow or pushing a car can bring on a heart attack or make other medical conditions worse. Be aware of symptoms of dehydration. Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.

WINTER STORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS

A winter storm watch indicates that severe winter weather may affect your area. A winter storm warning indicates that severe winter weather conditions are definitely on the way. A blizzard warning means that large amounts of falling or blowing snow and sustained winds of at least 35 miles per hour are expected for several hours.

If you want additional information you can contact the American Red Cross.

Information in this article is presented courtesy of the City of Cambridge (MA) Emergency Management Department. They can be reached at: Fact Sheet: Winter Storms

HAZARDOUS WASTE UPDATE

LAB INITIATIVE TEAM RESUMES WORK

For over a year Hazardous Waste Management Services and Environmental Health and Safety at the University of Massachusetts have been actively involved in various lab inspection activities. The people who have conducted these services have been identified as the Lab Initiative Team. Again this academic year, the Lab Initiative Team team will be revisiting laboratories for hazardous waste management services during the fall and winter semesters. The objective of this effort is to assist labs to comply with federal and state hazardous waste regulations. The United States Environmental Protection Agency is continuing its aggressive inspection program of New England colleges and universities.

Large fines resulted from a number of campus inspections. Boston University was assessed over 1.3 million dollars for violations. Your cooperation with team members in carrying out these service calls will help the university to avoid a similar fate.

UMASS REUSE EXCHANGE BULLETIN ON-LINE

The University of Massachusetts at Amherst Reuse and Exchange list of available chemicals is on-line at Chemical Reuse and Exchange Program Please review it before you order your reagents. Also, if you have chemicals or chemical items that are surplus to your needs and can be used by someone else, let us know. The web site has the means of honoring your request.

ON-LINE HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT TRAINING COMING

EH & S is happy to announce that work is underway to create a web-based training program for hazardous waste management that will be available to the campus community. This is in response to recent U. S. Environmental Protection Agency interpretations of required training for employees (including students) who generate or are responsible for hazardous wastes. We are working with the university's CC-BIT office to develop a short, instructive program that meets the mandate in this area. We will be working on other web-based training programs in the future.

Environmental Health and Safety News

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Director: Dr. Donald Robinson