LETTERS: Chemicals are used in many industries. About 80,000 types of chemicals are in use every day globally.
Only a small fraction of these have been tested for basic human health effects.
Furthermore, many chemicals have effects on the same target organ. Multiple exposures to these chemicals can adversely increase health effects.
Also, some chemicals have accumulative effects in the body, causing long-term and transgenerational health risks.
Science students and researchers in university laboratories are exposed to chemicals.
Students and researchers handle a wide range of chemicals, each having different health hazards upon exposure.
Most students and researchers, during their three to five years in universities, would handle at least one or more cancerogenic, reproductive toxicity and mutagenic compounds together with substances that cause other effects to the body.
Many students and researchers think they have low exposure to chemicals as they emulate their supervisors, who handle chemicals according to safety procedures and who are perceived to have received training themselves.
The training received by students and researchers are general in nature and often not specifically to the chemicals that they handle.
There is always a gap in knowledge of the chemicals and in adherence to safety procedures.
Occupational training for students and researchers is necessary to ensure full awareness of the hazards and the precautionary measures in handling the chemicals.
Chemicals can do no harm if they do not get into the body. Their entry to the body are mainly via inhalation, dermal and eye absorptions, and sometimes via unintentional ingestion.
As an illustration, some chemicals, such as acids and soda, produce immediate injury upon being splashed.
They cause nasty burns that could leave a permanent scar but do not result in systemic effects.
Other substances, such as carcinogens, have a long latency period. The cancer that results is mainly specific to the organ the chemical targets and would manifest only many years after exposure.
Hence it is imperative to minimise exposure to these chemicals.
Students and researchers must have adequate knowledge of the chemicals handled. Information on the chemical can be obtained from the safety data sheet (SDS) of the chemical.
The document provides information, such as the properties of the chemical; the physical, health, and environmental hazards; emergency measures; and safety precautions for handling, storing and transporting the chemical.
The SDS also provides information on personal protective equipment to be worn, first aid procedures and spill clean-up procedures.
This information follows the SDS requirements in the Globally Harmonised System (GHS).
However, many suppliers of chemicals are still not compliant with the GHS format.
Some still use the old SDS material, which does not provide sufficient information of the chemical.
In the final analysis, universities have the obligation and responsibility to ensure students and researchers are not exposed to chemicals.
On a positive note, some universities have carried out chemical health risk assessments for their students and researchers.
They have also conducted medical surveillance for those identified.
WONG SOO KAN
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times