Quantifying Zinc Contamination from Laboratory Syringes
While many sources of contamination in chemical and biological laboratories are well understood and known, some are less so. To quantify the magnitude of the potential contamination of solutions by zinc in common laboratory syringes, a study was conducted on solutions stored in rubber-containing syr...
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MDPI AG
2024-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4672/4/3/24 |
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| author | Sarah G. Lindgren Laura J. Sakol Monica Hoover Timothy M. Raymond Dabrina D. Dutcher |
| author_facet | Sarah G. Lindgren Laura J. Sakol Monica Hoover Timothy M. Raymond Dabrina D. Dutcher |
| author_sort | Sarah G. Lindgren |
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| description | While many sources of contamination in chemical and biological laboratories are well understood and known, some are less so. To quantify the magnitude of the potential contamination of solutions by zinc in common laboratory syringes, a study was conducted on solutions stored in rubber-containing syringes in which the rubber was catalyzed by zinc. This study identified specific factors contributing to contamination from laboratory syringes, including the syringe brand, time, solution type, and pH. Two common syringe brands, Covidien and BD, were tested, and three time durations, 0 days, 1 day, and 14 days, were examined. The solutions tested included sucrose and tartaric acid, representing both covalent and ionic species. Additionally, this study employed a pH range of 2 to 13 to further explore zinc contamination across a wide range of conditions and factors. The zinc concentration from the syringes was measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results, which ranged from less than 20 to over 600 μg L<sup>−1</sup>, revealed increased zinc concentration at both extreme pH values, while remaining lower but measurable at neutral pH levels. Zinc contamination is important to study because its contamination in laboratory syringes could interfere with the detection of other elements, further skew laboratory data, unexpectedly catalyze reactions, and lead to inconsistencies in experimental conditions. This study further emphasizes the broader significance of understanding pollutants within laboratory settings. The findings highlight the intricate dynamics of zinc contamination, stressing the need for the control of environmental factors and the broad dissemination of lesser-known sources. Recognizing the potential impact of contaminants like zinc is crucial, as it not only influences analytical accuracy, but also mirrors the wider concern of pollutants compromising scientific integrity in diverse experimental conditions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-602c6b7aa5934450aacea1cdd8670ef8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-4672 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-07-01 |
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| series | Pollutants |
| spelling | doaj-art-602c6b7aa5934450aacea1cdd8670ef82025-08-20T01:55:48ZengMDPI AGPollutants2673-46722024-07-014335035810.3390/pollutants4030024Quantifying Zinc Contamination from Laboratory SyringesSarah G. Lindgren0Laura J. Sakol1Monica Hoover2Timothy M. Raymond3Dabrina D. Dutcher4Department of Chemical Engineering, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USADepartment of Chemistry, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USAEnvironmental Engineering & Science Laboratory, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USADepartment of Chemical Engineering, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USADepartment of Chemical Engineering, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USAWhile many sources of contamination in chemical and biological laboratories are well understood and known, some are less so. To quantify the magnitude of the potential contamination of solutions by zinc in common laboratory syringes, a study was conducted on solutions stored in rubber-containing syringes in which the rubber was catalyzed by zinc. This study identified specific factors contributing to contamination from laboratory syringes, including the syringe brand, time, solution type, and pH. Two common syringe brands, Covidien and BD, were tested, and three time durations, 0 days, 1 day, and 14 days, were examined. The solutions tested included sucrose and tartaric acid, representing both covalent and ionic species. Additionally, this study employed a pH range of 2 to 13 to further explore zinc contamination across a wide range of conditions and factors. The zinc concentration from the syringes was measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results, which ranged from less than 20 to over 600 μg L<sup>−1</sup>, revealed increased zinc concentration at both extreme pH values, while remaining lower but measurable at neutral pH levels. Zinc contamination is important to study because its contamination in laboratory syringes could interfere with the detection of other elements, further skew laboratory data, unexpectedly catalyze reactions, and lead to inconsistencies in experimental conditions. This study further emphasizes the broader significance of understanding pollutants within laboratory settings. The findings highlight the intricate dynamics of zinc contamination, stressing the need for the control of environmental factors and the broad dissemination of lesser-known sources. Recognizing the potential impact of contaminants like zinc is crucial, as it not only influences analytical accuracy, but also mirrors the wider concern of pollutants compromising scientific integrity in diverse experimental conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4672/4/3/24rubberzinclaboratory pollutantsyringe |
| spellingShingle | Sarah G. Lindgren Laura J. Sakol Monica Hoover Timothy M. Raymond Dabrina D. Dutcher Quantifying Zinc Contamination from Laboratory Syringes Pollutants rubber zinc laboratory pollutant syringe |
| title | Quantifying Zinc Contamination from Laboratory Syringes |
| title_full | Quantifying Zinc Contamination from Laboratory Syringes |
| title_fullStr | Quantifying Zinc Contamination from Laboratory Syringes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantifying Zinc Contamination from Laboratory Syringes |
| title_short | Quantifying Zinc Contamination from Laboratory Syringes |
| title_sort | quantifying zinc contamination from laboratory syringes |
| topic | rubber zinc laboratory pollutant syringe |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4672/4/3/24 |
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