Robert M. Rioux y Taslima a Zaman, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, PA
los usuarios son responsables de la eliminación adecuada de los residuos generados durante su trabajo. Eliminación incorrecta de residuos severamente puede poner en peligro la salud pública o el medio ambiente. El manejo de residuos peligrosos debe ser regulado desde la generación hasta su disposición en su centro de destino final fuera del sitio. Un sistema de gestión de residuos debe formularse antes de comenzar el trabajo en cualquier actividad de laboratorio. Los usuarios deben cumplir con las normas y reglamentos de su Instituto ' oficina de salud ambiental y seguridad (EHS), que desarrolla e implementa sistemas de gestión de residuos adecuada satisfacer diversos reglamentos y normas, como las impuestas por la Occupational Safety y Health Administration (OSHA).
In this document, a basic guideline for laboratory waste disposal is provided. Users must work and comply with their institute's EHS office to determine the proper method for waste disposal satisfying diverse regulations and standards. The laboratory user should be cognizant of what waste material is being generated and hazards present should be carefully assessed to determine proper waste disposal, which may otherwise put public health or the environment in danger. No matter how small or large a waste quantity is handled, proper PPE must be worn.
| Contaminant | Maximum Contaminant Level, mg/L |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene | 0.007 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | 0.2 |
| 1,1,2-Trichloroethane | 0.005 |
| 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) | 0.0002 |
| 1,2-Dichloroethane | 0.005 |
| 1,2-Dichloropropane | 0.005 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | 0.07 |
| 2,4-D | 0.07 |
| 2,4,5-TP (Silvex) | 0.05 |
| Alachlor | 0.002 |
| Antimony | 0.006 |
| Arsenic | 0.010 as of 01/23/06 |
| Asbestos (fiber > 10 micrometers) | 7 |
| Atrazine | 0.003 |
| Barium | 2 |
| Benzene | 0.005 |
| Benzo(a)pyrene (PAHs) | 0.0002 |
| Beryllium | 0.004 |
| Bromate | 0.01 |
| Cadmium | 0.005 |
| Carbofuran | 0.04 |
| Carbon tetrachloride | 0.005 |
| Chloramines (as Cl2) | 4 |
| Chlordane | 0.002 |
| Chlorine (as Cl2) | 4 |
| Chlorine dioxide (as ClO2) | 0.8 |
| Chlorite | 1 |
| Chlorobenzene | 0.1 |
| Chromium (total) | 0.1 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 0.07 |
| Cyanide (as free cyanide) | 0.2 |
| Dalapon | 0.2 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate | 0.4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate | 0.006 |
| Dichloromethane | 0.005 |
| Dinoseb | 0.007 |
| Dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) | 0.00000003 |
| Diquat | 0.02 |
| Endothall | 0.1 |
| Endrin | 0.002 |
| Ethylbenzene | 0.7 |
| Ethylene dibromide | 0.00005 |
| Fluoride | 4 |
| Glyphosate | 0.7 |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | 0.06 |
| Heptachlor | 0.0004 |
| Heptachlor epoxide | 0.0002 |
| Hexachlorobenzene | 0.001 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | 0.05 |
| Lindane | 0.0002 |
| Mercury (inorganic) | 0.002 |
| Methoxychlor | 0.04 |
| Nitrate (measured as Nitrogen) | 10 |
| Nitrite (measured as Nitrogen) | 1 |
| o-Dichlorobenzene | 0.6 |
| Oxamyl (Vydate) | 0.2 |
| p-Dichlorobenzene | 0.075 |
| Pentachlorophenol | 0.001 |
| Picloram | 0.5 |
| Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | 0.0005 |
| Selenium | 0.05 |
| Simazine | 0.004 |
| Styrene | 0.1 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 0.005 |
| Thallium | 0.002 |
| Toluene | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) | 0.08 |
| Toxaphene | 0.003 |
| trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 0.1 |
| Trichloroethylene | 0.005 |
| Vinyl chloride | 0.002 |
| Xylenes (total) | 10 |
Table 1. Table of Regulated Drinking Water Contaminants. Obtained from US Environmental Protection Agency website at https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/table-regulated-drinking-water-contaminants
Hazardous waste, whether chemical, medical or radioactive, is generated in many laboratories and requires regulated disposal to ensure safety of public health and the environment.
The regulation of hazardous waste handling must be enforced from the moment of generation until its disposal at an offsite final destination facility.
Prior to commencing any laboratory activity, a waste management system must be devised. This is often established by an institute’s Environmental Health and Safety, or EH&S, office, which enforces guidelines imposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA.
This video will illustrate the principles and typical laboratory procedures of proper waste disposal.
Efficient waste management is an important aspect of proper waste disposal. This can be accomplished by using the minimal amount of chemicals possible, by reusing surplus materials, and by recycling waste.
The generated waste must be labeled, segregated according to chemical compatibility, and stored in a fume hood or other well ventilated area. Other laboratory waste, such as sharps and glass, must be disposed with care in appropriate containers.
Now that we have discussed the principles of proper waste disposal, let’s look at an actual procedure.
If applicable, keep chemical waste to a minimum by reducing the scale of operation. Furthermore, substitute chemicals with less hazardous reagents whenever possible.
In addition to minimizing the scale of operation, store only chemical quantities that will be used in the near term. You can also reduce chemical waste by recycling solvents like acetone, using a distillation.
Wear proper personal protective equipment including a lab coat, goggles, and gloves, as well as long pants and closed-toed shoes, whenever handling any chemical waste.
Collect chemical waste in suitable containers such as plastic carboys or glass bottles, and store near the point of generation in a designated satellite accumulation area.
Affix labels to the waste containers as soon as chemicals are added. Write on the labels the full names of the chemicals and their approximate compositions.
Additionally, use separate containers for halogenated, nonhalogenated, and aqueous waste to avoid potential heat or gas formation. When the containers are filled to capacity, carefully move them to a designated central accumulation area, from which they will be removed for disposal.
Dispose of chemically contaminated needles, syringes and razor blades, collectively known as sharps, inside of a sharps waste container.
For broken glass, used pipettes or test tubes, use a specialized glass waste container. If desired, empty bottles can be reused after triple rising with acetone, water, and again acetone.
You’ve just watched JoVE’s introduction to proper waste disposal. You should now understand waste management, how to collect chemical and sharps waste, and how to store it for disposal. Thanks for watching!
