Health Hazards in the Science Classroom [microform] / Barbara Scherr Trenk

Designed for high school science teachers, the document warns of potential health threats of performing certain experiments and using certain chemicals or chemical combinations in their courses. Following a rationale for more carefully considering health dangers, the document gives suggestions on what can be done by teachers. Reports such as a survey by the Kentucky Labor Department, in which officials found that 90 percent of the state's four-year colleges and 5 percent of the high schools had one or more cancer-causing chemicals, are cited as sources of increasing concern. Sixteen carcinogens regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are listed, followed by a chart listing dangerous combinations of common school chemicals. Other cautions on handling chemicals are described and organic chemistry is discouraged at the high school level. Teachers are encouraged to re-evaluate laboratory equipment and chemicals and schools are urged to develop safe procedures for storage, use, disposal, and supervision by qualified personnel. (LH)