TABLE B [Policy on Minors in Laboratories: TABLE B Version 2016-05-09] Page 4 of 4
Potential Hazard Information Table*
[*This table is to be used as a reference for the form: Parent/Guardian Consent for a Minor in Laboratories]
[Version 2016-05-08]
Research animals represent a variety of species, temperaments, and health conditions. They can cause physical injuries,
transmit zoonotic diseases (diseases passed from animals to humans); or be a source of allergens or toxins.
Scratch, bite (physical injury)
Rabies, toxoplasmosis (zoonotic disease)
A chemical is a refined compound that may be in the form of a solid, liquid, or gas. Potential injuries include burns of the skin
or eyes, respiratory problems; allergic reactions; irritation of skin, eyes, and mucous membranes; and illness. Based on their
specific effect, chemicals may be classified in one or more of these categories:
• Allergens – cause of allergic reactions
• Carcinogens – produce cancer
• Teratogen – affect male and female reproductive systems; may cause birth defects in the developing fetus.
• Flammables – burn or explode
• Reactives – react explosively
• Corrosives – cause tissue damage upon contact including inhalation
• Toxins – cause illness or death upon exposure. (Neurotoxins specifically affect the nervous system).
Thalidomide (teratogen)
Acetone, xylene, alcohol (flammables)
Peroxides, acrylamide (reactives)
Acids, bases (corrosives)
Cyanide (toxin)
Equipment and
Instrumentation
Potential hazards from mechanical or electrical equipment include loud noises, very high or very low temperatures, electrical
shock, pinching/crushing injuries.
Autoclaves/sterilizers (burns)
Gases may be toxic, corrosive, or flammable. They may cause eye and skin irritations, respiratory problems, light-headedness,
asphyxiation, and fainting.
Some gases are stored in metal cylinders under high pressure. Compressed gas cylinders can explode causing injury from
Nitrogen, helium, any other non-oxygen gas
(asphyxiant)
Hydrogen (flammable)
Light of a single color emitted in a narrow beam. Hazards from lasers are classified as:
• Class 1 - No hazard.
• Class 1M – No hazard unless the beam is viewed with an optical instrument (e.g. eye-loupe or telescope).
• Class 2 – Insufficient power to cause eye damage within the normal aversion response time.
• Class 2M – Insufficient power to cause eye damage with the normal aversion response and beam is viewed with an
optical instrument (e.g. eye-loupe or telescope).
• Class 3R – Some direct and indirect viewing (specular reflection) can cause eye injury, does not pose a fire hazard or
diffuse viewing hazard.
• Class 3B – Direct and indirect viewing (specular reflection) of the beam can cause eye injury.
• Class 4 – Direct and indirect (specular and diffuse reflection) viewing of the beam can cause eye injury. Can cause skin
injury, is a potential fire hazard, may produce hazardous laser generated air contaminants and plasma radiation.
Nitrogen lasers (Class 3B)
Examples of Class 4 lasers used:
• Ophthalmology
• Surgery
Agents
Living organisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, prions, and parasites. Those that are capable of causing disease are called
pathogens. The effects of these agents are organism dependent and can range from mild, treatable to severe, to untreatable.
Hazards from microbiological agents are classified as:
• Biological Safety Level 1 – No hazard to healthy adults
• Biological Safety Level 2 – Cause mild to severe illness
• Biological Safety Level 3 – Cause severe illness and possible death
• Biological Safety Level 4 – Not allowed at SLU.
Bakers Yeast, E. Coli K12 (Level 1)
Adenovirus, Influenza, Salmonella, HIV
(Level 2)
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, SARS virus,
(Level 3)
Radiation/Radioactive
Materials
High energy particles (alpha & beta) or waves (X-rays and gamma rays). Unprotected exposure can cause skin or eye
damage, cellular damage, and long-term health problems.
Uranium, Phosphorous 32, Iodine 125
X-rays
Materials
DNA that has been genetically engineered (altered) by combining it with DNA from another source. Viruses may be used as
vectors to infect (transfect) cells with the foreign DNA.
A transgenic organism is one that has had genes from another organism inserted into its genes. The consequences of
introducing such foreign genes into human body may be difficult to predict.
Adenovirus, adeno-associated virus
(viral vector)
Poisons produced by microbiological organisms, plants, or animals. These agents can cause tissue and organ damage or death.
Ricin (plant), Snake venom (animal),
Botulinum neurotoxin (bacteria)