[ RadSafe ] MSDS stupidity

[Franta, Jaroslav]

That's interesting.
Some MSDS are quite reasonable - for example the one from which I took the
excerpt below.....

Cheers !

Jaro 
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

LD50 (LETHAL DOSE TO 50 PERCENT OF THOSE EXPOSED) 
HEAVY WATER MUST ENTER THE BODY AND BUILD UP AND DISPLACE THE BODY FLUIDS TO
AT LEAST 30% BY WEIGHT. 

EFFECTS OF ACUTE EXPOSURE TO HEAVY WATER 
THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTED EFFECTS DUE TO ACUTE EXPOSURE FOR SMALL AMOUNTS,
THAT IS LESS THAN 100 GRAMS ENTERING INTO THE BODY. SMALL AMOUNTS OF HEAVY
WATER ARE USED IN MEDICAL TESTING TO DETERMINE THE TOTAL BODY WATER. THUS IT
IS USED IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION FOR ROUTINE TESTS. 
INGESTING LARGER AMOUNTS OF HEAVY WATER, GREATER THAN 1 LITRE (2.2 POUNDS)
MAY CAUSE SHORT TERM NAUSEA AND DIZZINESS. 

EFFECTS OF CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO PRODUCT 
THERE ARE NO CHRONIC EXPOSURE EFFECTS FOR SMALL QUANTITIES. IF EXPOSED TO
HIGH CONCENTRATIONS WITH LARGE AMOUNTS FOR PROLONGED PERIODS THE HEAVY WATER
MAY DISPLACE BODY WATER. LABORATORY ANIMALS SHOW NO EFFECTS WITH UP TO 15%
BODY WEIGHT HEAVY WATER. 


-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Atkinson [mailto:robert.atkinson at genetix.com]
Sent: Thursday July 07, 2005 12:12 PM
To: Mercado, Don; James Salsman; radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: RE: [ RadSafe ] MSDS stupidity


I was once sent a sample of a hazardous chemical to test in one of our
dispensing machines. It was in the packaging of a well known Lab
chemical supplier and complete with a MSDS. The safety precautions
included gloves, eye and respiratory protection. Skin contact was to be
avoided and if ingested immediate medical attention should be sought. 
What was this highly dangerous chemical? Liquid paraffin, a common
ingredient of baby oil and a common laxative! 
I guess if they put all possible warnings on the MSDS then they can't be
sued.

Robert Atkinson.











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