How to get rid of Ethidium Bromide? - (Dec/10/2005 )
[quote name='John Buckels' date='Dec 13 2005, 12:21 AM' post='34295']
I agree, don't use it for anything else ever. For keeping it clean, just use soap and water though
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HI Dear<
If apparatus is heat resistance to heat, you can wasf it with boiling water to get rid of EtBr which is heat-degradeable.
Sunlight?? What will that do to EtBr?
But in this case.. umm.. =\
that day while i was loading gel.. a drop of EtBr stained the edge of my pipette.. what should I do? do I have to leave it for EtBr use forever? =\
I think you need some perspective. Assignment: compare and contrast the safety issues of ethidium bromide with phenol/chloroform and hydrofluoric acid.
Hi guys,
Too bad that I found this forum just now after we had struggled so much with getting rid of EtBr in our lab. Oh, well At least I can share some knowledge with those who are planning on doing this in the nearest future. I am a Lab manager/SRA II at the University of California, San Francisco. What our EHS people recommend is to use regular household vinegar for decontamination. Don't use bleach as it has been proven to make EtBr even more cancerogenic. So, again, I would recommend soap water for decontaminating your bench, gel containers, and everything else that are not afraid of water. Then soak it in vinegar. For equipment/computers, use paper towels soaked in vinegar. Don't toss the used paper towels, vinegar, or water into the regular trash cans/down the drain. Use EHS guidelines for that. Of course you lab will smell pretty badly for a couple of days, but it will become much safer. Switch to GelRed or Sybr green after decontamination is complete.
Good luck! 
Too bad that I found this forum just now after we had struggled so much with getting rid of EtBr in our lab. Oh, well At least I can share some knowledge with those who are planning on doing this in the nearest future. I am a Lab manager/SRA II at the University of California, San Francisco. What our EHS people recommend is to use regular household vinegar for decontamination. Don't use bleach as it has been proven to make EtBr even more cancerogenic. So, again, I would recommend soap water for decontaminating your bench, gel containers, and everything else that are not afraid of water. Then soak it in vinegar. For equipment/computers, use paper towels soaked in vinegar. Don't toss the used paper towels, vinegar, or water into the regular trash cans/down the drain. Use EHS guidelines for that. Of course you lab will smell pretty badly for a couple of days, but it will become much safer. Switch to GelRed or Sybr green after decontamination is complete.
Good luck!
Vinegar? Sounds practical enough. While i dont have vinegar in the lab, i'm wondering if there is an acetic acid solution that would meet this need better. Would you have any sort of chemical reasoning behind the vinegar? I could possibly test a new cocktail out for best results....
My question is : Should I decontaminate my running buffer and gel before throwing them away?
usually the concentration of EtBr in those is low enough to dispose of normally.
one of my senior in the lab told me to decontamination by using activated charcoal (powder), sprinkler onto the things you want to decontaminate. then spray with ethanol and wipe. finally wipe with mild soap and water.... because after decontamination using charcoal, the equippment is VERY VERY VERY VERY............ dirty (charcoal black!!!)
we did that for the gel imager when the lab undergo renovation.
therefore, it is not suggested for decontamination of labcoat or your shirt... 
that day while i was loading gel.. a drop of EtBr stained the edge of my pipette.. what should I do? do I have to leave it for EtBr use forever? =\
If it was only a small drop of EtBr you can decontaminate the pipette.
However, it is probably better that you choose a set of old pipettes (Most labs have some lying around that aren't used anymore because of incorrect volumes) and assign those for use with EtBr ONLY. Also, mark an area in your lab were the EtBr-work goes on and keep all contaminated recipients etc. there.