UMDNJ REQUIREMENTS FOR WRITTEN STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOPs) FOR PARTICULARLY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
In the 2003/2004 revision of the Laboratory Safety Plan for each campus, a new requirement was added regarding written standard operating procedures.
A written Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is recommended for work involving particularly hazardous substances, which includes select carcinogens, reproductive toxins, and acutely toxic chemicals. Written SOPs are required for chemicals with very low oral, inhalation, or skin LD50 as defined in section 4.C.2 of the Laboratory Safety Plan, and these SOPs must be reviewed by EOHSS.
EOHSS should be informed when a lab will use a chemical for which a written SOP is required. EOHSS will provide assistance in the development of the written SOP, if requested, even if the chemical does not meet the specific criteria listed in section 4.C.2.
The chart below from section 4.C.2. can be used for guidance as to which standard operating procedures must be submitted to EOHSS for review. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) may be used to determine toxicological information). MSDSs may be obtained via the EOHSS website or by contacting EOHSS.
Types of Study |
Chemical considered “Toxic” |
Chemical considered “Highly Toxic” |
EOHSS Review Required |
Oral LD50
(albino rats) |
50 - 500 mg/kg |
< 50 mg/kg |
< 30 mg/kg |
Skin Contact LD50
(albino rabbits) |
200 - 1000 mg/kg |
< 200 mg/kg |
<100 mg/kg |
Inhalation LC50
(albino rats) |
200 - 2000 ppm in air |
< 200 ppm in air |
< 100 ppm in air |
Inhalation LDLO
(Human) |
NA |
NA |
< 100 ppm |
- An LD50 value is the amount of a solid or liquid material that it takes to kill 50% of test animals in one dose.
- LC50 (50% lethal concentration) is a related term used for gases, dusts, vapors, mists, etc. It is the concentration of a material in air that will kill 50% of the test subjects when administered as a single exposure (typically 1 or 4 hours).
- LDLO - This is the lowest known lethal dose.
Partial List of Chemicals That Would Need to Have an SOP Reviewed by EOHSS:
- Chloromethyl methyl ether - 55 ppm LD50 rat inhalation
- Cyanogen Bromide - 92 ppm LCLO human inhalation
- Dimethyl mercury - 1 to several drops LDLO human skin
- Hydrogen Cyanide - 10 mg/kg LD50 rat oral
- Hydrofluoric acid - 50 ppm LCLO human inhalation
- Methyl Mercury Salts - varies
- Osmium Tetroxide - 14 mg/kg LD50 rat oral
- Mechloroethamine HCL - 10 mg/kg LD50 rat oral
- >5% Sodium Azide - 27 mg/kg rat oral LD50
- Tetanus Toxin - LD50 < 2.5 ng/kg unvaccinated persons
Chemicals For Which Safe Work Practice Standard Operating Procedures Are Available
Biological Agents for Which EOHSS Standard Operating Procedures Are Available
Request EOHSS Assistance with Development of New Written SOP:
- Newark Campus - 2-4812
- Piscataway/New Brunswick - 5-4058
- Stratford Camden - 6-6189
