- SUBJECT: Radioactives in teaching labs
- DATE: 5/97
-
-
- Im writing a paper on important litigation in biology laboratories
in
- higher education. One reviewer wants me to speak to the use of
- radioactives. I have never heard of undergraduates using radioactives
in
- teaching labs. Are any of you aware of their use? Also, are there any
- recent cases that you are aware of involving litigation from accidents
in
- teaching labs? Thanks for you help.
- ***************************************************************************
- Thomas R. Pitzer--Lecturer/TA Coordinator
- Dept. of Biological Sciences, OE 246, FIU
- University Park, FL 33199
- Office: (305) 348-1224
- FAX: (305) 348-1986
- Email: pitzert@fiu.edu
- Homepage: http://www.fiu.edu/~pitzert/
- ***************************************************************************
-
-
- I use tritium in a cell biology lab on the cell cycle. In Molecular
- Biology I use P-32 for Southern blots and S-35 in sequencing. I know
that
- the trend is to stay away from radioactive materials. However, with
small
- classes, close supervision, and proper lab technique, I feel that there
is
- value in having students utilize radioisotopes. My students are primarily
- college juniors and seniors. Thankfully, I have not heard of any
- litigation surrounding the use of these materials at the undergraduate
- level.
-
- Weldon Jones
-
- *****************************************************************************
- C. Weldon Jones, Ph.D. email: w-jones@bethel.edu
- Professor and Chair of Biology Tel.: (612) 638-6312
- Bethel College Fax: (612) 638-6001
- 3900 Bethel Drive
- St. Paul, MN 55112
-
-
- We have used I125 in a radioimmunoassay for thyroid function, tridium
for
- cell cycle studies, and P32 and S35 in molecular biology labs. Some
of our
- molecular biology instructors have moved to nonradioactive methods
and are
- pleased with the results. It is unlikely that everyone will convert
- however. We have not had any litigation problems, but we are regulated
like
- crazy. We have many hoops to jump through to get permission to use
- radioactive material and every student using radioactive materials
has to
- participate in a short course presented by radiation safety. We are
heavily
- monitored because the NCR revoked the University's licensce a few years
- agao when some techs in the medical school had spread P 32 all over
the
- place -the door handle, the counter, the bathroom door handle, etc.
They
- were even eating in the same room as their hot bench. Needless to say
they
- are no longer with us and the entire University remains on red alert,
so to
- speak.
-
-
- Jim Bader
- Department of Biology
- Case Western Reserve University
- Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7080
- jxb14@po.cwru.edu
-
-
- I've switched to nonisotopic detection, which doesn't
- work nearly as well. But it works. I would have no problem using P-32
- with advanced students [at low levels; I'd do the labeling reaxn],
but I
- DO have a problem with tritiated nucleotides! They're undetectable,
so a
- student can be covered in them, go out to dinner, and ingest large
quantities,
- along with others whose food he/she touches! P-32 at least you can
detect
- before they leave the lab, and deal with any contamination.
- -Bob Moss
- Wofford College
-
-
- Thomas,
-
- For years we have had a lab experiment in cell biology (usually a senior
- level majors course) that uses radioactivity. As RSO I keep careful
watch
- on how the students are prepared for this two lab series and how we
monitor
- hands, cloths and the facilties/equipment. I've also had over the years
a
- lab in the molecular biology course that uses either 32P or 35S but
we have
- moved to non-radioactive systems in the past several years.
-
- I'm wondering what issues you are addressing in your paper on litigation
in
- biology labs. Perhaps you could give us a sense by giving an outline
of
- the topics you are covering.
-
- Earl Fleck
- Professor and Chair
- Department of Biology
- Whitman College
- Walla Walla, WA 99362
-
-
- Thanks for the response. I should have been more complete with my original
- email. I'm looking at negligence or other charges brought against teaching
- laboratories as a result of accidents or other aspects of improper
or
- non-existent safety measures. Then I make recommendations to practice
- primarily to assist instructors and administrators in creating and
- maintaining safe labs with as much reasonable monitoring as possible.
It
- has a very legalese focus--it's not a safety guide.
-
- From: "Thomas Pitzer" <pitzert@fiu.edu>
-
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