Dangerous Chemicals?

[lindalove]

Uhm.....I'm gonna ask my photography professor tomorrow, but I was wondering if any of you guys knew of the safest way to dispose of dangerous chemicals?

I mixed D-76 in my kitchen, and I'd like some advice on how to throughly clean it and make it safe to cook in again. I don't think I spilled any chemicals, but I just want to be ABSOLUTELY sure.

[The_Jazz]

If you're disposing of left-over chemicals, call your local garbage service provider and find out. They may tell you to take it to a service station since those folks dispose of chemicals fairly often.

As far as cleaning your sink, I have no idea.

[lindalove]

Talked to a marine biologist friend of mine who likes messing with chemicals. We looked at the properties, and he suggested warm soapy water repeated a few times, so I've done that. Hopefully everything will be fine....I DON'T think anything bad is happening, but better safe than sorry.

(and NEVER mix chemicals in your kitchen, unless you plan on never eating in there!!!!)

[kazoo]

Methinks you're being a tad too worried. Years ago I ran both b & w and color development processes in my basement, never wore gloves, and would sometimes have a snack during long printing sessions. Decades later, I fathered a child and from all evidence present, the helix of our DNA is still properly twisted. While it's true that you may have a sensitivity to one or more chemical components in b & w developer, it's not like you're mixing anthrax or sarin in the same tupperware you'll take to the church social.

[rofgilead]

It looks to me from googling that the chemicals in the D-76 developer are not extremely dangerous in trace amounts. They are chemicals that seem to be oxidizing/bleaching things including borax and hydroquinone.

So, basically, a just little more wierd than regular bleach materials. To clean up the kitchen, I would thouroghly wash everything with soap/water. Multiple passes will help - 3 complete washes of all surfaces is better than 1, because each wash you have exponentially less of the substance there.

[lindalove]

Aaaah, all right. Thank you! I was concerned. I'm wondering about what to do about mixing Dektol now....I need to have like hot tap water, but I don't want to risk doing it in the house due to my having a cat. Any advice/suggestions, or is it safe to do so in the house as well?

[kazoo]

Assuming that you don't pour any on the kitty, you should be fine. I wouldn't leave any out where dogs or cats could get at it, as animals will sometimes ingest poisonous products-automotive antifreeze being a classic example.

[Scorpion23]

I pulled the following from the MSDS that I found on google.

6. ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES
Concentrate: Flush to sewer with large amounts of water. Otherwise, sweep up
and place in a container for chemical waste. Clean surface thoroughly to
remove residual contamination.
Working solution: Flush to sewer with large amounts of water. Otherwise,
absorb spill with vermiculite or other inert material, then place in a
container for chemical waste. Clean surface thoroughly to remove residual
contamination.

13. DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS
Discharge, treatment, or disposal may be subject to national, state, or local
laws. Flush to sewer with large amounts of water. Since emptied containers
retain product residue, follow label warnings even after container is emptied.

I would think that cleaning with soap and water would be sufficent, although a labratory cleaner made for organics wouldn't be a bad idea. I use Alconox Powder, it's cheap and a 4 lb. box would last you for years.