Summary
To estimate worker exposures to, and environmental contamination from, test chemicals and organic solvents used in an in vitro assay to assess the carcinogenic potential of chemicals, sodium fluorescein, a noncarcinogenic fluorescent material, was dissolved in tissue culture medium used to maintain early passage hamster embryo cells. Personal and environmental samples were taken over a 14-d period. The assay was performed according to standard procedures in a ventilated glove box or laminar flow safety cabinet. Considerably more than 99% of the chemical contamination found was recovered from the interiors of the glove box and hood and from disposable equipment. Contamination outside the containment units (less than 1 μg) resulted from intralaboratory transport of chemicals, treated cultures, and contaminated equipment. We conclude that the standard operating practices and procedures provided adequate safeguards for personnel and the environment.
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Research sponsored by the National Cancer Institute under Contract N01-CO-75380, with Litton Bionetics, Inc.
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Sansone, E.B., Losikoff, A.M., Lebherz, W.B. et al. Assessment of environmental contamination associated with a mammalian cell transformation assay. In Vitro 17, 811–815 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02618448
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02618448