Chloroform is a common solvent, starting with NMR samples in sophomore-level chemistry. Why should I worry?
Chloroform, dichloromethane, and many other halogenated organic compounds readily pass through nitrile gloves. This means that the disposable gloves most people wear every day in laboratories provide no protection from chloroform and dichloromethane, and small splashes can result in exposure. Exposure must be avoided because these chemicals are known or suspected carcinogens and teratogens.
The interaction of some halogenated organics with different glove polymers is shown below on glove manufacturer’s chemical compatibility charts.
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) gloves provide good protection, but their thickness can make some lab techniques difficult. The “Working with Thick Gloves” guide illustrates how to incorporate PVA gloves into chemical handling while maintaining manual dexterity.
Dichloromethane is included with the following chlorinated compounds among the OSHA-regulated carcinogens. This means that lab-specific training and a Standard Operating Procedure are required before your lab can begin using these chemicals. The OSHA standard also requires carcinogen storage for the lab or part of the lab where the chemical(s) will be stored and used.
|dichloromethane or methylene chloride||methyl chloromethyl ether||3,3′-dichlorobenzidene (and its salts)|
|bis-chloromethyl ether||vinyl chloride||1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane|
Ensure a written SOP is in place, and appropriate engineering controls & PPE (including compatible gloves) are available, before using any of the following halogenated organic compounds:
- 1-chloronaphthalene (CAS# 90-13-1)
- 2-chlorotoluene (CAS# 95-49-8)
- 4-chlorotoluene (CAS# 106-43-4)
- 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (CAS# 96-12-8)
- 3,3′-dichlorobenzidine (CAS# 91-94-1)
- 1,2-dichloroethane, also called ethylene dichloride or EDC (CAS# 107-06-2)
- benzoyl chloride (CAS# 98-88-4)
- bis-chloromethyl ether (CAS# 542-88-1)
- carbon tetrachloride (CAS# 56-23-5)
- chlorobenzene (CAS# 108-90-7)
- chloroform (CAS# 67-66-3)
- dichloromethane, also called methylene chloride (CAS# 75-09-2)
- epichlorohydrin (CAS# 106-89-8)
- methyl chloromethyl ether (CAS# 107-30-2)
- perchloroethylene, also called PERC (CAS# 127-18-4)
- trichloroethylene (CAS# 79-01-6)
- vinyl chloride (CAS# 75-01-4)