Question

• An unknown chemical is found in the lab, and thankfully, you were able to make out the NFPA codes, MSDS, and LD₅₀, as given in the following
• • Given LD₅₀= 150-200 mg/kg by ingestion for a 70 kg adult, what precautions will you take in the laboratory?
  • Using both the NFPA codes and the GHS pictogram, are there any special precautions you would take when handling this chemical.

Answer 1

LD50= 150-200 mg/kg by ingestion for a 70 kg adult. In LD50, LD stands for "Lethal Dose". LD50 is the amount of a toxic substance, given all at once, which causes the death of 50% (one half) of a group of test animals. The LD50 is one way to measure the short-term poisoning potential (acute toxicity) of a substance.

The LD50 of 150-200 mg/kg is quite on riskier side hence heavy preacution is needed.

1. NFPA of the substance should be displayed clearly and known to the person handling the substance.

2. The substance should be kept with GHS pictogram, clearly visible to the people using the substance.

3. MSDS of the substance should be known to the people handling the substance.

4. Since LD50 is quite riskier side, propoer preacution should be taken to avoid ingestion.