Guide for Handling of Hazardous Organic Chemicals at Laboratory.

Abstract

The environmental pollution by hazardous chemicals has been concerned. The discharge of hazardous chemicals into the environment must be prevented since it is difficult to specify the environmental influence by the chemicals. From the viewpoint of the health protection for employees, the handling of a lot of chemicals is regulated by various laws. However, the discharge of chemicals is hardly regulated. The chemicals on which the effluent standard has been already determined are only limited to a part of chemicals used in the laboratory. Even if the chemicals where the effluent standard is not set, the discharge of harmful chemicals must be avoided. In order to prevent the environmental pollution by chemicals, researchers themselves must learn how to manage the handling of used chemicals. Laboratories are, therefore, required to reduce the amounts of chemicals used and chemical wastes discharged. The chemicals should be used safely in the laboratory, in consideration of the environmental conservation and public health. Separate collection of chemical wastes at the generation source is the most important means for the safe treatment of the wastes. The basic principle of the treatment is to treat the wastes properly at the generation source. It is important for the original dischargers to recognize their responsibility as generators of the wastes.