Office of Public Safety
Office of Environmental Health & Safety
Office of Environmental Health & Safety

Animal Research Health and Safety

The Animal Research Health and Safety Program provides guidance and information on controlling your exposure to hazards while conducting studies involving animal models.

Administration of Biological and Chemical Hazards to Research Animals

The administration of biological and chemical hazards to laboratory animals requires careful planning to prevent uncontrolled exposures for research, veterinary and animal husbandry staff. It is the Principal Investigator’s responsibility to notify DCM staff  prior to administering hazards. Prior notification provides time needed to educate students and staff involved in the care of the research animals on the precautions required to prevent exposure and inadvertent release of hazards into the environment.

Administration of Chemical Hazards to Research Animals

Your research may involve the controlled administration of Particularly Hazardous Substances (PHS), that include  antineoplastic drugs, toxins and other chemicals to animal models. These guidelines provide information on decreasing your  potential for exposure to a variety of potentially hazardous materials.

Safe use of Isoflurane in Animal Research

Isoflurane is a commonly used halogenated anesthetic in animal research at Georgetown University. Researchers can be exposed, via inhalation, to waste anesthetic gases (WAG), including isoflurane, if care is not taken to scavenge or prevent release into the laboratory environment. 

Although the relationship between overexposure to isoflurane and adverse health effects is not well-defined, most references in the occupational health literature recommend precautions to control exposure during veterinary and research-related surgical procedures. These precautions include adequate general ventilation in the surgical areas, the use of well-designed and well-maintained scavenging systems, work practices to minimize leaks and spills while the anesthetic agent is in use, and routine equipment maintenance to minimize leaks.

Always consult with DCM veterinarians if you have animal care concerns related to the use of halogenated anesthetic gases.

Reducing Exposure to Anesthetic Gases

Use anesthetic gases in a laboratory equipped with adequate ventilation. Georgetown  University laboratories are designed to provide a minimum of 6 air changes per hour (ACH). Our animal procedure labs provide 10 or more ACH. As with all hazardous chemicals, consult with Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) if you plan to use isoflurane or any other anesthetic gas outside of a laboratory.

Several methods to capture or scavenge WAG are available:

Charcoal Canisters

Canisters should be positioned upright, not horizontally.  

Record the baseline weight directly on the canister. After each use or before next use, weigh and record the value on the canister. Note that manufacturer’s guidelines must be followed in regard to weight limits, and that canisters must be discarded through EHS once it reaches those limits.

Safe Work Practices

 Before using anesthetic gas:

  • Vaporizer should be inspected annually.
  • Verify that the chemical fume hood, ducted biosafety cabinet or ventilation system has been checked within the last year. 
  • Fill the vaporizer in a chemical fume hood, if available. Always use an anti-spill adaptor. Wear a lab coat, disposable nitrile gloves and eye protection.
  • Verify that the chemical fume hood, ducted biosafety cabinet or ventilation system has been checked within the last year. 
  • Fill the vaporizer in a chemical fume hood, if available. Always use an anti-spill adaptor. Wear a lab coat, disposable nitrile gloves and eye protection.
  • Use the lowest concentration of anesthetic gases needed. 
  • Whenever possible, place the induction chamber in a fume hood or ducted biosafety cabinet. If a fume hood or ducted biosafety cabinet is not available, attach a charcoal canister to the exhaust port.
  • Place the animal in the induction chamber and then turn on the vaporizer.
  • Purge the induction chamber with oxygen prior to opening the chamber to retrieve the anesthetized animal.

Disposal

  1. Contact EHS to arrange for pick up and disposal of unused or expired anesthetic liquids. Do not dispose of liquid into the drain or regulated medical waste receptacles.
  2. Used charcoal canisters must be bagged and disposed of by submitting a waste request to EHS. Do not dispose into regulated medical waste.

Isoflurane Exposure Limits

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has not issued a Permissible Exposure Limit for isoflurane. However, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (NIOSH) recommends that no worker should be exposed at ceiling concentrations greater than 2 ppm to any halogenated anesthetic agent over the course of 60 minutes. This exposure limit is based on the health effects attributed to halothane and methoxyflurane and has been extended by NIOSH to include newer halogenated agents such as isoflurane.   

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has set an 8 hour exposure concentration for enflurane at 75 ppm. Isoflurane is a structural isomer of enflurane.  

Administration of Biological Hazards to Research Animals

The administration of biohazards to animals requires careful coordination among the research staff, DCM employees and EHS. Georgetown University  Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) reviews and approves work with recombinant nucleic acid molecules and biohazardous materials. As well as, IBC establishes biocontainment for research involving administration of these materials to research animals.   

The Georgetown University Biological Safety Manual contains a summary of Animal Biosafety Levels 1 and 2.

Zoonotic Disease Information

Interactions with animals can pose a risk for zoonoses, diseases of animals that can be transferred to humans. Often, the animal shows little, if any, sign of illness.  The fact sheets on this page provide information on how to prevent transmission of zoonotic diseases associated with laboratory animals.

If you suspect that you have sustained an exposure to a zoonotic disease, contact Occupational Health.

Zoonotic Guides:

Additional Resources

Medical Clearance for Animal Researches 

Link to Occupational Health Website