Biology/Physical Contact - Carcinogen
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Question
I am a biology student. I was working a little after lab this evening, and I came into physical contact with a carcinogen. I was not wearing gloves. Should I be worried? What should I do?
Hi Justin: Thanks for your question. Do you know what carcinogen it was? Also how did you contact it? Breathing, eating, skin exposure? Did you report to your instructor?
If you washed up and didn't ingest the toxin, I think you will be OK. Most of the time people have to be exposed for a long time (years) in order to have an effect.
Write back with more details, and I'll try to help you.
FM Rollwagen, PhD
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Answers by Expert:
Florence M Rollwagen
Expertise
I can answer questions in biology, microbiology and immunology on the undergraduate or graduate level. I can also address medical and health concerns regarding alternative medicine, autoimmune diseases (lupus, MS) liver disease and intestinal problems.
Experience
I have over 20 years experience in research and teaching at the medical/graduate level, and 5 years teaching college biology and microbiology. My expertise is in microbiology and immunology, specifically the biology of cytokines and soluble immune response modifiers. I also carried out original research in blood substitutes and shock/trauma.
Organizations
American Association of Immunologists (AAI)
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Publications
Journal of Experimental Medicine, Journal of Immunology, Cytokine, Shock, Experimental Hematology
Education/Credentials
BS biology 1966
MS biology 1968
PhD immunology 1979
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