Loading buffer with beta mercaptoethanol = toxic - (Dec/09/2011 )
Beta mercaptoethanol is mentioned to be toxic on its labelling, if so, do we have to use it with caution when included in SDS loading buffers? Wearing a mask/using it under biohazard hood?
many use it under a fume hood. i work with the undiluted in the fume hood but use the dilute sample buffer at the bench when preparing samples for sds-page (some people complain).
mdfenko on Fri Dec 9 21:31:09 2011 said:
many use it under a fume hood. i work with the undiluted in the fume hood but use the dilute sample buffer at the bench when preparing samples for sds-page (some people complain).
2-ME really makes the loading buffer pungent when used outside a fume hood. My question has arisen because since I'm 'inhaling' so much of that, don't know if I should start taking precautions and take a little more effort to prepare all the samples under a hood which can be troublesome.
the merck index (9th edition, sorry, it's the newest one i have) doesn't give a ld or ld50 for 2-mercaptoethanol or mention toxicity.
this doesn't mean you should not take standard precautions and use safety procedures. it is a reducing agent so may be corrosive to skin. it is known to attack the mucosa so you want to limit exposure to its fumes.
as with any chemical, treat it with respect and you won't have to fear it.
Have a look here, I'd use a fume hood.