This document provides information on chemical, biological, and radioactive substances used in laboratories. It defines chemicals and groups them into classes like oxidizers, flammables, corrosives, and reactives. It also discusses biological substances and divides them into biohazardous and non-hazardous groups based on risk. Radioactive substances are defined and the types of radiation they emit like alpha, beta, gamma, and neutrons are explained. Safety procedures around storage, handling and exposure routes for different substances are outlined.

1. Topic
Chemical, biological and radioactive substances
Submitted to
Dr. Tamseela Mumtaz
Submitted by
Roll no.4
Subject
Laboratory and Biosafety
ASSIGNMENT

2. CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND
RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES
USED IN LABORATORY

3. It is a form of matter having constant chemical composition and
characteristic properties and exist as solids, liquids and gases.
Chemicals can be grouped into different hazard classes.
CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE
Chemical
Reactive
Corrosive
Flammable
or
Combustible
Oxidizers

4. Are chemicals that can readily provide reactive oxygen under
certain conditions.
When in contact with organic materials or other oxidizable
chemicals , oxidizers can form unstable and explosive compounds
sensitive to shock.
 Examples: Halogens, hydrogen peroxide.
OXIDIZERS

5.  Flammable and combustible materials are those that can ignite,
explode or react with other chemicals. Flammable liquids have a
flashpoint of less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (°F), and
combustible liquids have a flashpoint between 100-200 °F. These
materials must be stored in flammable storage cabinets.
 For a fire to occur, there must be:
i. Fuel
ii. Source of oxygen (often air)
iii. An ignition source.
FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE

6. Corrosives are chemicals that can cause visible
destruction of living tissue or other materials.
Example: Sulphuric acid
 Its major classes are
Strong acids and bases ( e.g. H2SO4,NaOH)
Dehydrating agents (Calcium oxide)
Oxidizing agents ( Chlorine, Bromine)
CORROSIVE

7. Reactive chemicals are chemicals that can, under certain
conditions, release very large and potentially dangerous amounts
of energy.
 Reactive chemicals may also have health hazards
Examples of such chemicals include explosives, peroxides, and
water-reactive chemicals.
These substances pose an immediate hazard and must also be
stored in a manner to protect from light, heat, shock, friction,
contact with a catalyst,
REACTIVE

8. CHEMICAL STORAGE INCOMPATIBILITY

9. https://www.justrite.com/news/chemical-storage-guidelines-for-
safety-cabinets/
VIDEO LINK

10. is any substance that originates from living organisms, which
may be infectious or non-infectious.
This includes parts of or tissues from organisms that are or were
living.
Examples: Blood, Human tissue
BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCE

11.  Is a Biological material that poses a health risk to humans,
animals, plants or the environment.
 May cause disease in other living organisms or cause significant
impact to the environment.
 Examples include:
 Certain types of proteins, Organisms infectious to humans,
animals or plants (e.g. parasites, virus, bacteria, fungi,)
 Biologically active agents derived from living organisms (e.g.
toxins, allergens, venoms).
BIO HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE

12. Also known as occupational illnesses, can occur as a result of
exposure to a pathogen (a biohazard) in a laboratory.
 LAIs can be symptomatic or asymptomatic in nature and have the
potential to spread to other individuals within the working
environment and to the community.
Understanding the route of exposure to pathogens in the
laboratory is an integral step in preventing LAIs.
LABORATORY ACQUIRED INFECTIONS

13.  Common exposure routes include:
• Inhalation (e.g. breathing in aerosols)
• Ingestion (e.g. eating in the laboratory)
• transferring of agents to mouth by contaminated fingers or
items)
• Inoculation/puncture (e.g. needle sticks, scratches or animal
bites)
• Absorption(e.g. splashes on skin)
EXPOSURE ROUTE

14. Biological materials are classified into four risk groups
i. Risk Group 1
ii. Risk Group 2
iii. Risk Group 3
iv. Risk Group 4
RISK GROUPS

15.  A category of biological agents or microorganisms that is
unlikely to cause disease in healthy workers, animals, or plants
 Risk Group 1 organisms pose a low risk to individuals and to the
community.
 e.g. Yeast, E.coli, Lactobacillus
RISK GROUP 1

16.  pathogens that are able to cause serious disease in a human but
are unlikely to do so.
 Effective treatment and preventative measures are available and
the risk of spreading the disease caused by those pathogens is low
 Risk Group 2 organisms pose a moderate risk to the health of
individuals.
 e.g. Salmonella, Staphylococcus.
RISK GROUP 2

17.  Pathogens that cause serious disease in a human.
 Effective treatment and preventative measures are usually
available
 Risk of spreading the disease caused by those pathogens is low
 Risk Group 3 organisms pose a high risk to the health of
individuals.
 e.g. Hepatitis virus, Mycobacterium,
RISK GROUP 3

18.  A category of human or animal pathogen that is able to cause
very serious disease in a human or animal.
 Effective treatment and preventative measures are not usually
available
 Risk of spreading the disease caused by those pathogens is high
 Risk Group 4 organisms pose a high risk to the health of
individuals.
 e.g. Ebola virus
RISK GROUP 4

19.  Substances that emit radiation are referred to as radioactive
substances.
 Example: Plutonium, Radium, Cobalt
 Devices that emit radiation are termed as radiation devices.
RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES

20. • Ionizing
• non-ionizing.
Radiation is divided into
two broad categories:
CATEGORIES

21. Ionizing radiation has sufficient energy to
ionize (remove electrons from) atoms as it
passes through and interacts with matter.
Because ionizing radiation is more
energetic, it can directly damage living
cells, and therefore poses a hazard to
individuals working with or in the vicinity of
radioactive substances.
Examples of ionizing radiation are
radioisotopes, radon, radiation from X-ray
machines, and accelerators.
IONIZING RADIATION

22. non-ionizing
radiation does
not possess
sufficient energy
to ionize atoms.
Examples of non-
ionizing
radiation include
visible light,
microwaves, and
radio waves
NON IONIZING RADIATION

23. • sealed sources
• unsealed sources.
Radioactive
substances at
the university
typically take
two major
forms
RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES

24. Sealed sources are commercially manufactured devices in which
radioactive material is enclosed and sealed into the device.
Which prevent it from escaping
During normal usage
Under accident conditions
e.g. a disk or rod
SEALED SOURCES

25. Unsealed sources are open radioactive substances such as
liquids, powders, or rocks.
Unsealed sources are easily dispersible and can pose a risk
of contamination if not handled properly.
UNSEALED SOURCES

26. Radioactive
substances emits
following types of
radiation.
alpha particles beta particles neutrons gamma/X-rays
TYPES OF RADIATION

27. Are particles emitted by some heavy unstable materials during
radioactive decay.
Examples of alpha emitting radionuclides include U-238, Ra-226,
and Po-210.
Alpha particles are heavy subatomic particles (roughly 2,000 time
heavier than an electron).
 highly ionizing radiation.
 Alpha particles can travel only a few centimetres in air and
cannot penetrate the dead outer layer of your skin.
ALPHA PARTICLES

28. Are tiny, fast moving electrons emitted from unstable materials
during radioactive decay.
 Examples of beta emitting radionuclides include S-35, P-32, and
C-14.
Beta particles travel further in air and are more penetrating than
alpha particles,
Can be easily stopped by materials such as Plexiglas.
Can penetrate outer dead layer of your skin into living tissue.
BETA PARTICLES

29. Neutrons – Are electrically neutral particles similar in size to
protons emitted from select unstable materials during radioactive
decay.
 An example of a neutron emitting material is an AmBe-241
source.
Neutrons are highly penetrating posing an external and internal
hazard to humans.
 Neutron radiation sources require special handling procedures.
NEUTRONS

30. Are monochromatic electromagnetic radiation emitted from selected
unstable materials during radioactive decay.
Examples of radionuclides that emit gamma radiation include Co -60
and I-131.
Gamma rays are very penetrating and can travel great distances
through matter. Gamma rays can completely pass through the human
body.
Materials such as concrete and lead are used for shielding to help
reduce exposures to workers.
X-Rays – Are electromagnetic radiation similar to gamma rays but
lower in energy. Common sources of X-rays include X-ray machines.
GAMMA RAYS

32. X-ray machine is
radiation emitting device
designed to create and
direct X-rays for
diagnostic purposes,
measurement and
analysis techniques, and
for research.
X-RAY MACHINE

33. What is a chemical.Nicnas.gov.au.2005-06-01.Archived from the
original on2013-16.
Laboratory safety manual,2015, Uni of Saskatchewan.pg 47-68.
T. John and L.Malon,2011,Types of radiation, Canadian nuclear
safety commission.
L. Jublijana and Z.Cesta,2007,Radioactive materials in
laboratory, Inter Con.607.2-607.3
REFERENCES