Articles by Kim Myers

Just like most workplace settings, excessive noise in chemical and analytical laboratories can be a serious issue on several fronts.

Using compressed gases in the laboratory can be dangerous if they are not handled properly. Many gases can be explosive, flammable, corrosive, and toxic. Because the gases are under high pressure in tanks and cylinders, any release of gas can spread quickly and endanger lab personnel—including the possibility of
death from explosion or asphyxiation. Less-deadly safety risks include physical injuries from mishandling tanks, especially to the hands, feet, and lower back.

Helium is commonly used as the makeup gas for flame ionization detection in gas chromatography;
however, dramatic increases in cost and limited availability in recent years have led many chromatographers to use nitrogen in its place.

Selecting the most effective source for high-purity gases is a critical issue for laboratory managers. In-house generation of gases offers the following advantages: gases are continually provided; it is not necessary to replace tanks on a periodic basis; less energy is required to supply gas, since tank gas or liquid nitrogen requires distillation of air and transportation of tanks to the final point of use.