From griffin2__(at)MAPSONece.cmu.edu Tue May 13 15:21:41 2003
Date: Sun, 11 May 2003 18:59:43 -0400 (EDT)
From: John Linwood Griffin <griffin2__(at)MAPSONece.cmu.edu>
To: Karen Lindenfelser <karen__(at)MAPSONece.cmu.edu>, d-level__(at)MAPSONece.cmu.edu
Cc: gripe__(at)MAPSONece.cmu.edu
Subject: Another update on unknown gas on D-level

 to: karen, d-level
 cc: gripe (response requested; see below)

To follow up on Eno's message:

Executive summary: The CMU environmental safety officer says it's okay to
go back to D-level (but call the police if you develop symptoms of an
allergic reaction or have trouble breathing).

The police and the on-call person for CMU's environmental safety group
responded to my call to 8-2323 to check out the unknown gas on D-level.
A graduate student from the D100(?) wing had been doing experiments on
aerosolized Naproxen Sodium(?).  This is safe to be ingested in solid form
(it is used in some of the headache stuff) but can be an irritant and/or
toxic at high aerosol concentrations.

The student was disregarding a number of laboratory safety practices,
which I find inexcusable.  Actual quotes:

- "Our vent hood was broken.  There is another one in a different
  laboratory, but I didn't feel like carrying my heavy equipment over
  there."

- "I did this on a Sunday because I figured nobody else was around."

- (even though the MSDS says "Toxic" in big letters when referring to the
  aerosol form) "But it's safe when it's in solid form!"

GRIPE: I am going to attempt to find the laboratory manager over there to
make sure this kind of incident doesn't happen again.  Can you tell me
whom I should talk with?

The student has discontinued his experiment.  The CMU environmental safety
guy said it would be okay to go back into the hallway (and our section of
D-level), and that the aerosol has dissipated in the common areas.  He
said the only danger is if you have an allergic reaction to the Naproxen,
in which case you shold seek medical attention immediately.

-John Linwood