JUNE 2007 • Vol. 27, Number 4
CUR
Focus
Amelia Ahern-Rindell, Associate Professor
of Biology, University of Portland
How to Get Started Using Chemicals and Radionuclides in an
Undergraduate Research Laboratory
Mentoring undergraduate research can be a rewarding and productive
endeavor for the principal investigator (PI) and his/her students.
However, it also has associated responsibilities and additional duties.
The most important issue is the safety of all involved in the research,
whether it is conducted at the bench or in the field. As a PI you are
not alone when it comes to ensuring the safety of all research participants. There is a lot to take into consideration, but remember, there
is plenty of information available to help you get started. As the saying goes, “there is no need to reinvent the wheel.” If you are just starting an undergraduate research program at your institution, there are
some basics about safety that you should know. My experiences getting my research up and running at the University of Portland over the
past 10 years have enlightened me about the importance of being in
compliance with all institutional, state, and federal guidelines concerning safety. This is definitely one of the exceptions to when the
idiom “ignorance is bliss” does not apply.
My areas of expertise, and thus my research pursuits, are in genetics
and cell biology. I am a bench scientist who uses reagents and chemicals on a daily basis and on occasion radionuclides, all of which have
158
Trevor Jorgensen ('05) demonstrates cell culture techniques to Annie Barry ('06), both
are biology majors who collaborated with Dr. Amelia Ahern-Rindell in the characterization of a Lysosomal Storage Disease model in sheep at the University of Portland.
training specific to his/her own laboratory and research project.
inherent safety risks and require proper handling and disposal.
Before taking your issues to the top administrative echelon, those in
Foremost on my list of things to do when I started putting together
control of the purse strings, you must have a plan in place document-
my new laboratory was to familiarize myself with regulatory guide-
ing what is needed, why it is needed, and how expensive it will be.
lines about the use of such materials. Since my institution is primari-
Even more important, you must show the administration how the
ly a teaching institution, very little information was available on cam-
institution will benefit from implementing your plan, or more likely,
pus about these issues, and more importantly no staff members were
how they will avoid liability for not being compliant with guidelines
responsible for overseeing safety issues and ensuring proper training
and how they will become eligible for state and federal funding. Even
in the handling and disposal of the materials I would need for my
a private institution must comply with all regulations to be eligible to
research. This meant I not only had to educate myself about safety
compete for funding from any state or federal agency. This can be a
issues, but also educate my institution and be sure they would provide
very strong incentive for an institution to take action and provide
the financial support and personnel to ensure compliance. Bringing
needed support. In addition, a strategy I have used to help secure
everyone up to speed can be a very time consuming and frustrating
administrative buy in is to expand the pool of users so there is a
process. Therefore, it is critical to go through proper channels and get
greater payback for the institution’s investment. When applicable, I
as many supportive individuals on board, such as fellow faculty,
bring my research into the classroom and combine teaching with my
department chair, and dean to guarantee success. Recalcitrant facul-
research endeavors. The cell culture I perform for my research is now
ty become more supportive if you can assure them their workload will
a part of what I teach in the Cell and Molecular Biology class. In this
not increase substantially. For example, we have a staff member over-
way, more students are positively impacted by the investment in the
see the general safety training of all teaching and research assistants.
necessary safety infrastructure to perform cell culture on campus.
This means that each faculty member only needs to provide safety
The more students impacted, the more receptive the administration
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will be to making the necessary expenditures. This is also an appropri-
Gathering Information
ate time to assess your institution’s overall compliance level, not just
Being in compliance with all the safety regulations is your number one
pertaining to chemicals or radionuclide use, but all safety issues that
priority. To start, your institution should employ a Health and Safety
may affect the institution and indirectly impact you, your students, and
Officer. This may not be a full-time position and instead one of your
your shared research goals.
science colleagues may be serving part-time in this role. Regardless of
For example, if there is any animal research being conducted at your
how your institution manages this position, having one is essential and
university there must be an Institutional Animal Care and Use
this is the first person you want to go to for information. They should
Committee (IACUC). If you are using any biological materials, such as
be able to give you the regulations your institution has in place regard-
performing cell culture, or working with liquid nitrogen or gases like
ing the safe usage of chemicals and radionuclides. They should also be
CO2, you must have proper training in place to educate users about
able to give you information about your respective state’s regulations
pertinent safety issues. Even if your major concern pertains to chemi-
and federal guidelines. If this information is not readily made available
cal and radionuclide safety, which I will concentrate on in this article,
to you, your administration should be informed of this inadequacy.
alerting your administration to the need for their oversight on all these
The Internet is another source to go to for information, but be sure you
issues may earn you brownie points and get you what you need to con-
utilize legitimate sites. These sites should be sponsored by your state
duct your research safely and compliantly. Additional rewards are the
or the federal government. For example, the Occupational Safety and
satisfaction of helping your institution to avoid some hefty fines and
Health Administration (OSHA) is a great resource about federal guide-
placing them in better position to obtain outside funding and thus
lines and safety training (http://www.osha.gov). There are many
increase their financial standing.
resources available to you through the Internet and through state and
federal agencies (see Table 1).
Table 1. Reputable Internet Sites for Safety Information
AGENCY or INSTITUTION
URL
TYPE OF INFORMATION
American Chemical Society
http://www.chemistry.org
Short courses on safety
Department of Environmental Quality
http://www.oregon.gov/DEQ (fill in your state)
State permits & licensing for generating and
disposing of waste
Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/hazwaste.htm
Information on waste disposal
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
http://www.hhmi.org
Information on laboratory safety
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
http://www.iacuc.org/aboutus.htm
Information on federal regulations governing
animal care & use
Material Safety Data Sheet
http://www.ilpi.com/msds/#Government
Provides MSDS for chemicals
National Regulatory Agency
http://www.nrc.gov
Information about radionuclides
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
http://www.osha.gov
Information about safety on the job
US Department of Energy
http://hss.energy.gov
Information on all types of safety
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JUNE 2007 • Vol. 27, Number 4
Every laboratory is required by federal law to have accessible Material
you need depends on many factors so be sure you are fully informed
and Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) about every chemical or reagent that
to make the appropriate decisions. Sometimes posting a list of dos
is stored and used in the laboratory. These can be obtained online
and don’ts about the appropriate use of protective safety equipment
from the manufacturer or distributor of the chemical when it is pur-
can serve as a simple reminder. When it comes to safety don’t take
chased. I keep these printouts alphabetically organized in 3-ring note-
anything for granted.
books in a prominent location in the laboratory so they are readily
Prevention can go a long way to making your laboratory safer, but acci-
accessible to everyone. The MSDS notebooks should be reviewed and
dents happen and one must also be prepared to deal with these
updated often.
occurrences in an efficient and safe manner. Being prepared for such
Once you have the information you need to make your laboratory
incidents can mean the difference between a minor versus a major
compliant, you need to inform others about potential dangers in your
injury and minimal property damage versus a total loss. All laborato-
laboratory. The simplest way to convey information to anyone com-
ries should have a first aid kit, which can be used to take care of minor
ing into your laboratory is through signage. If your institution cannot
injuries. Be sure to report any injuries that occur regardless of how
provide you with the necessary signs, you can obtain them from a
minor. Your institution should have a process in place for filing such
wholesaler such as Fisher Scientific or Van, Waters and Rogers (VWR).
reports. Most laboratories are equipped with devices to be used in
State and federal laws mandate that certain information be posted
the event of a fire including fire extinguishers, fire blankets, and over-
when there is a foreseeable or potential danger. Usually pre-made
head body showers. However, chemical fires might require special
signs that utilize standard symbols and cautions are the best to use.
types of extinguishers so be sure you have what is appropriate for
Any information that can be readily conveyed in a sign is an inexpen-
every potential situation in your laboratory. Eyewashes are also a must
sive way to make a laboratory environment safer. Emergency informa-
when working with chemicals, as is a chemical spill kit. These kits pro-
tion should also be posted such as what to do and who to call in case
vide the basics to contain a spill in a safe manner until emergency per-
of an emergency. All chemicals or reagents should have their initial
sonnel arrive on the scene and perform proper clean up. Kits are also
labels retained intact on the bottle, jar, or container, and any solutions
made for radionuclide spills. It is important to minimize the spread of
that are prepared should be labeled with what is contained in the
radioactive material prior to emergency personnel arriving on the
solution, who made it, and when. You can also ensure a safer work
scene. Monitoring the location and amount of radioactivity is a
place by having safety equipment available for all laboratory person-
necessity at all times not just during an accident. The law requires hav-
nel.
ing devices available to perform these tasks and for them to be calibrated on a routine basis. Monitoring devices to consider are Geiger
and scintillation counters and, when appropriate, personnel should be
Safety Equipment
There are many types of safety equipment with some used for taking
outfitted with dosimeters such as badges or rings.
preventive measures and others used to minimize the extent of injury
Having this equipment available is just the first step. This equipment
or damage following an accident. Once again your Health and Safety
must be maintained and checked on a periodic basis to ensure that it
Officer should be consulted as to what specific equipment you will
is always in working order. Some types of safety equipment must be
need. However, there are some basics that every laboratory should
routinely certified to be working properly. For example, qualified per-
have if chemicals and radionuclides are in use. These include protec-
sonnel must inspect fume hoods and biological safety hoods on a reg-
tive clothing such as full-length lab coats, rubber gloves or thermal
ular basis. This certification process is mandatory. Other permits and
gloves (for extreme temperatures), appropriate eye protection, and
licensing might also be required such as when you are using certain
under certain conditions, a facemask, breathing regulator or a face
chemicals that could be used to make some types of terrorist
shield. What to use when is usually an issue of common sense, but
weapons. The use of radionuclides requires licensing by the state. The
don’t rely on this alone for wise decisions to be made. When using
class of license depends on what type and how much of a radionu-
radionuclides, protective equipment must be tailored to the specific
clide will be used.
type of radionuclide being used. For example, what type of shielding
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Storage
tory personnel, you should implement a training program in your own
In addition to providing specifics about the physical and chemical
laboratory. Providing written materials to the trainees as well as
properties, the MSDS also describes how to use a particular chemical
scheduling a time for discussion are essential. The training session
safely and how it should be stored. Chemicals should be divided into
should include a tour of the laboratory and facilities where the per-
separate groups based on their different properties and then stored in
sonnel including your students will be working. It should include
separate locations. Flammable chemicals should be separated from
showing the trainees the location of all safety equipment and a
acids, which should be separated from bases, etc. Radionuclides have
demonstration on proper use. Teaching assistants (TAs) should also
their own storage requirements, which again depend on the type of
receive training especially if they are paid by the university. In their
radionuclide. If a central storage area is used for larger quantities of
role as TAs, the students are employees of the institution and must be
stored chemicals, special ventilation requirements need to be consid-
trained just like all university personnel. When it comes to training
ered. Secure storage is also an issue. Chemicals need to be accessible
individuals about the use of radionuclides, they must take a certified
to those individuals trained to use them, but they must be secured to
course. Rather than trying to set up such a process on your campus, it
prevent non-authorized individuals from having access. This accessi-
might be a good idea to see if there is a research institution nearby
bility versus security issue is also true about research laboratories in
that is willing to train your personnel for a fee. This is what we have
general, but especially pertains to areas that are designated for
done. It saves us a lot of work and additional expense.
radionuclide use. Proper storage of chemicals also extends after their
use when they become waste.
Documentation
The last issue to address, but by no means a minor issue, is keeping a
Disposal
paper trail. You can do all that is necessary to ensure safety for indi-
Chemical waste is usually divided first into solid or liquid waste, sec-
viduals in your laboratory, but failure to document can result in liabil-
ond according to whether or not it is hazardous, and finally if it is
ity should anything go wrong. Therefore, you should have a reporting
radioactive. Very specific protocols must be followed for these differ-
system in place that shows what you have done to inform personnel
ent designated waste types. Special containers and storage areas may
in your laboratory about safety and what specific measures you have
be required depending on the type of waste. Proper labeling of waste
taken to ensure their safety. For example, each student who partici-
containers is essential. In addition to labeling the contents of the con-
pates in a training session should sign and date a form that specifical-
tainer, the amount of each substance in the container should be noted.
ly describes what information they were provided and whether they
Certain non-hazardous waste may be disposed of on-site such as rins-
understood all the instructions. Another thing to consider is prepar-
ing it down the drain with sufficient volumes of water. Most haz-
ing a form that students must sign if they are given special privileges
ardous waste, however, must be picked up by a licensed waste removal
to go into the laboratory when you are not present. The form should
service. If there is any doubt about how to dispose of any type of lab-
contain a list of things the student has permission to do or not do in
oratory waste, be sure to contact a reputable source for information
the laboratory in your absence. This form should also contain a state-
such as your institution’s Health and Safety Officer, the Radiation
ment informing the student to keep confidential the code you have
Safety Officer (RSO), or the manufacturer of the material.
entrusted to them to gain entry to the laboratory by way of a numbercoded door lock for example. We also provide after-hour passes to
Training
Making safety information available in the laboratory with signage,
postings, and MSDS folders can go a long way to helping inform per-
our students who have access to the laboratory during non-operational hours. This provides our public safety officers a way to check
that individuals they find in the laboratory after-hours have permission
to be there.
sonnel and students who work in the laboratory, but there is no substitute for specialized training to address laboratory safety issues of all
types. If your institution doesn’t require safety training for all labora-
Other documentation that should be present in your laboratory is an
updated chemical inventory that you prepared and posted so it is
Council on Undergraduate Research • www.cur.org
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JUNE 2007 • Vol. 27, Number 4
readily accessible. Be sure that it is kept up to date and that you send
a copy to your Health and Safety Officer and to whomever else you
think may be appropriate. All the protocols and procedures per-
CALL FOR
CUR Quarterly Editor
formed in the laboratory should be written down and made available
to all laboratory personnel. Special notations should be made to safety issues to draw attention to their importance. In the case of
radionuclides, students should only be allowed access to where
radionuclides are stored or used when a certified supervisor is present.
It is also important to have students sign documentation when they
receive copies of reporting sheets on their exposure obtained from
dosimeters worn as a badge or ring.
Certain types of documentation and reports are required by law while
others are just a good idea. All of the aforementioned types of documentation are important in providing a record for legal purposes. It
is important that you protect yourself and your institution from liability issues. If you have any questions about what you should or should
not be doing from a legal standpoint, it is a good idea to consult with
your institution’s lawyer. When you are responsible for the well-being
of other individuals, you must be thoroughly informed and take all
precautionary actions to provide a safe working environment.
The Council on Undergraduate Research invites
applications for the volunteer position of Editor-inChief of the CUR Quarterly. The official appointment term is January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010;
however, responsibility begins with the development of content for the March 2008 issue. The
Editor-in-Chief works closely with CUR’s Executive
Officer and the Executive Board to promote and
serve the mission of CUR. Review of applications
will begin August 31st and continue until the position is filled. Applicants should read the CUR
Quarterly policy document available on the CUR
website and the guidelines/deadlines published in
each issue of the Quarterly.
Remember you are not alone when it comes to using chemicals and
radionuclides in your laboratory in a safe manner. There is no such
For further information and our ONLINE
APPLICATION FORM, consult the CUR website at
http://www.cur.org/Publications/EICapp.pdf
Direct inquiries via email to Nancy Hensel, CUR
Executive Officer: nancy@cur.org
thing as being too safe.
Amelia J. Ahern-Rindell, Ph.D.
Department of Biology
University of Portland
Portland, OR 97203
EM: ahernrin@up.edu
Dr. Amelia Ahern-Rindell, Associate Professor of Biology, joined the
University of Portland faculty in 1997. She received her B.S. from the
University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana in 1979 and her M.S. and Ph.D.
from Washington State University in 1985 and 1988, respectively. From
1988-1992 she was a National Institutes of Health Post-doctoral Fellow at
the University of California-San Diego, researching genetic lysosomal storage diseases. Dr. Ahern-Rindell’s first faculty position was from 1992-1997
in the Zoology Department at Weber State University. At the University of
Portland, Dr. Ahern-Rindell teaches courses in Cell Biology, Evolution, and
Genetics. She also serves as the Graduate School Advisor in the
Department of Biology and continues to pursue research on lysosomal
storage diseases. She has been a CUR biology councilor since 2003 and is
currently chair-elect of the biology division. She also serves on CUR’s
Government and External Relations Committee.
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