Primary Prevention of Chemical Risk: Evaluation of the Efficiency of Fume Hoods in the Laboratories of Bologna University

Abstract

The Service Department for Safety and Prevention of Accidents of Bologna University has analysed about 400 chemical fume hoods located in the laboratories of the Chemical and other Departments (Biology, Veterinary Medicine, Engineering). The parameters chosen were the face velocity of air immission and the velocity of aspiration. The results are not particularly encouraging and show that the percentage with a sufficient aspiration is too low (about 50%). The hooded benches in the majority of teaching laboratories contribute in some way to this negative result. In some cases preventative maintenance has improved the efficiency of aspiration although this has not always been sufficient to ensure the minimum parameters required by the safety standards were reached. We include recommendations that the correct choice of the hood should be made with regard to the TLV of the substances handled.