Environmental Health, Safety, and Risk Management

Methylene Chloride Quiz

1.) Please complete all fields with your personal information.

2.) Complete each question by selecting the most correct answer. A score of 100% is required for passing.

3.) When complete, please click “Submit to EHSRM” button.

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Staff / Faculty / UAF Student employee
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Non affiliate

1. Methylene chloride is:

A non-regulated, non-toxic chemical.
A non-regulated, toxic chemical.
A suspected carcinogen that is regulated by OSHA.
Considered hazardous, but not covered under any OSHA standard (similar to hydrochloric acid and ethanol).

2. The 8-hour permissible exposure level (PEL) for methylene chloride is:

1 ppm
25 ppm
300 ppm
2500 ppm

3. The action level for methylene chloride is 12.5 ppm over an 8 hour day. If you are exposed at or above this level:

No extra precautions are necessary because you are still below the PEL.
You will be required to undergo medical surveillance.
You have been grossly overexposed and will need to be hospitalized.

4. Methylene chloride vapors are lighter than air and will readily rise toward the exhaust systems in your lab.

True
False

5. The most likely route of exposure to methylene chloride is:

Inhalation
Injection
Ingestion

6. Acute symptoms of methylene chloride exposure include:

Elevated body temperature and enhanced state of alertness.
None - there are no acute effects associated with exposure to methylene chloride.
Dizziness, narcosis, respiratory irritation, headaches, and loss of coordination.

7. The CDC recommends that methylene chloride be treated as a suspected carcinogen (lung and liver).

True
False

8. Because it evaporates so readily, methylene chloride:

Can be used on the open bench.
Should only be used in a chemical fume hood.
Is not very useful as a solvent.

9. Suitable gloves for methylene chloride include:

Nitrile.
Polyethylene plus nitrile over those, or polyvinyl alcohol.
None are necessary because it evaporates so readily that there is little risk from skin exposure.

10. You are working in the lab and spill about a liter of methylene chloride on the floor. You should:

Let it evaporate and not worry about it - the lab ventilation system will clear out the vapors in a short time.
Clean it up with absorbent pads and then wash the floor with water.
Evacuate the lab, putting down an absorbent pad on the spill as you exit, and call UAF EHS&RM for assistance.
Evacuate the lab but don't worry about calling to report the spill because there won't be anything to clean up after the liquid evaporates. You can go back in after about 20 minutes.

11. You are working inthe lab when your coworker spills several hundred milliliters of methylene chloride on his pants. You should:

Get him to the chemical shower immediately, and have him remove his contaminated clothing while in the shower. Have him seek medical help and notify your supervisor and UAF EHS&RM immediately.
Not worry about it because the methylene chloride will evaporate from the material before it seeps through to his skin.
Encourage him to change his clothes, but tell him not to bother telling the lab supervisor/PI because he feels ok.

12. To dispose of methylene chloride waste, you can either allow it to evaporate in the fume hood, or dilute it 100-fold and pour it down the drain.

True
False