ethidium bromide - (Apr/19/2005 )
Hi,
I accidentally spilled 0.5mg/L ethidium bromide on my hand (approx 50 mL spill), and I had a small paper cut on my hand. I washed it immediately for approx 10 min, can anyone tell me if I have anything to worry about? This is my first time using ethidium bromide, so I'm really worried. 
I accidentally spilled 0.5mg/L ethidium bromide on my hand (approx 50 mL spill), and I had a small paper cut on my hand. I washed it immediately for approx 10 min, can anyone tell me if I have anything to worry about? This is my first time using ethidium bromide, so I'm really worried.
Why did you not use gloves when preparing it? You should have done it in a fume hood too. 50ml spill is alot. Hmmm...it is carcinogenic so only time can tell the consequences of it.
Teratogenic, too.
The pure stuff should be handled with extreme caution and ideally keep anything that may have touched it or a solution of it in a "contaminated" area We have an area taped off on the bench where all the gel-prep is done. Whilst it is a dangerous substance, handled carefully it should not present a problem.
Washing it immediately helped but I am not an MD so I wouldn't like to guess at the long-term effects. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed on the MSDS, seek immediate medical help. You have reported this to your lab supervisor?
In the meantime, have a link to read.
http://blink-prod.ucsd.edu/Blink/External/...0,15446,00.html
And wear gloves next time!
Hi Angela,
You did the right thing washing immediately with copius amounts of water. As far as I'm awear EtBr is a mutagen, tetragen and carcinogen and can therefore result in mutation of DNA etc. There is alot of paranoia over using EtBr and while this is one of the two most dangerous chemicals in the common laboratory (the other being acrylamide) a once off exposure is not likely to have any long term effects. What scientists have to be wary of is repeat exposures as it is part of our day to day practices.
I tend to liken EtBr to another tetragen, mutagen and carcinogen smoking, one cigarette probably won't kill you, however, repeat exposures can have dire consequences.
Therefore I'd suggest that you like everyone else should take precautions from now and wear protective gloves and gown, remember that gloves are not barriers and with any spills should be changed immediately.
Hope this helps,
Scott
hi
washing your hand woith lot of water is the great thing. Moreover as you did it immediately the penetration of etbr should be very very low. assuming the upper part of the skin hasn't a nucleus, is dessicated and has corneal the risk is really limited. If you ingested it or drop it on eye, diagnostic would probably be less optimistic.
Don't remember to wear GLOVES when handling hazardous solution and whatever in a lab... this point is the basic (no offense).
Fred
Thanks so much to everyone who replied!
I know it's definitely my fault for not wearing gloves, and I've learned my lesson. I guess there's not much I can do about it now, but thanks anyway for all the comments/suggestions!! 