Word: edb
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Another pesticide frontrunner, ethylene dibromide, was years ago shown to cause some chromosome damage, to induce tumor formation, and to cause reproductive problems in several species. The EPA has only begun to look at the pesticide's safety, even though EDB is used on peaches, grapes, beans, peas and other fruits, as well as soybeans and cotton...
...light of this uncertainty, and the unprecedented carcinogenicity displayed by EDB in the NCI animal study, it would seem that Ware and Vaida were taking temporary chances with other peoples' health, for the sake of an introductory chemistry lab. Their decision disregarded NCI's conclusion that its findings indicate a potential threat to human health...
Ware and Vaida also seem to take the position that the laboratory hazards are simply a part of laboratory work and that singling out EDB for scrutiny is unfair since it fails to take into account the many other hazards necessarily present in all labs, including the Nat Sci 3 lab. But teaching laboratories can be made safe, or at least safer than they are now, and they should...
Ware and Vaida correctly contend that if handled properly, EDB is probably safe. But inexperienced students can not be expected to possess flawless laboratory technique. Science students must learn to deal with lab hazards, but they need not be exposed to risks they are not yet prepared to handle safely: training student scientists in a teaching laboratory with carcinogenic chemicals is like training bomb squads with live explosives...
...respect we wholeheartedly agree with Professors Ware and Vaida: it is unfair to single out EDB without considering all the other potential hazards of the laboratory. Considering the attitude demonstrated in the case of EDB, it seems to be time for a thorough, independent review of all health and safety hazards in Harvard's research and teaching laboratories...