Lab 8. Safety.

Besides the regular safety rules, in this experiment you should be aware of the following:

• Exposure to magnetic fields and electromagnetic radiation of different frequencies is considered hazardous to human health. The mechanisms and the extent of their effect have been under investigation for quite some time but a concencus has not been reached yet. I offer you two reports available on the web:
  • Assessment of Health Effects from Exposure to Power-Line Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields -report from NIEHS
  • RF Radiation and Electromagnetic Field Safety report form the American relay Leauge
  • NMR safety at NMSU

• More obvious is physical effect of high magenic field next to the magnet - it can destroy information from you credit cards, magnetize your watch (digital watches are not affected) and attract your keys and glasses (if the frame is not stainless) to the magnet so it would difficult to take them off. LEAVE METALLIC PERSONAL ITEMS NEXT TO COMPUTER WHEN YOU APPROACH THE MAGNET
• a hazardous nature of the liquids you use:

  methanol - highly flammable and very toxic
  benzene - flammable and toxic, class 1 carcinogen
  CD₃Cl and CCl₄- highly toxic, cancer suspect agents they are volatile and could be harmful to you - don't inhale;
  acetic acid -ACID
  N,N - dimethylacetamide- Harmful combustible liquid, possible teratogen, readily absorbed through skin. You will be heating it inside the NMR magnet. Make sure that you keep temperature below its boiling temperature 165 °C. I

Last updated 03/01/05.