[NHCOLL-L:3034] Re: shipping in propylene glycol (Re: EtOH blues)

[Leslie Harris]

Hi Doug --

I can't answer your first question.  The answer for your other two 
appears to be Yes, you are correct.  I just checked the IATA & CFR49 
regs.  None of the propylene glycol variants are listed as hazardous 
materials.  that's despite being listed in the NIOSH Pocket Guide to 
Chemical Hazards.
Regards,
Leslie

At 04:49 PM 4/6/2006, Doug Yanega wrote:
>The recent exchange between Andrew Bentley and Ellen Paul regarding 
>the regs for shipments of ethanol prompted me to do a little 
>digging, and I want to check with people about a few things 
>regarding the possible use of propylene glycol for shipping of 
>scientific specimens:
>
>(1) my own personal interest is primarily in the context of bulk 
>samples of insects from traps - in this case the MOST important 
>question is about DNA. There seems to be some debate as to whether 
>PG is bad for insect DNA, and I've heard diametrically opposing 
>opinions from utterly trustworthy people on both sides, so I'm 
>baffled. Does anyone know for certain, empirically, whether shipping 
>specimens in PG has any detectable effects on DNA preservation?
>
>(2) if PG is safe for DNA, am I correct in believing that there are 
>no shipping regulations, either domestic or international, that 
>would interfere with making the substitution of PG for EtOH a routine practice?
>
>(3) Likewise, am I correct that there are no regulations against PG 
>on airplanes, in either checked or carry-on luggage?
>

Leslie H. Harris
Collection Manager,
LACM-Allan Hancock Foundation Polychaete Collection     tel: 213) 763-3234
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County            fax: 213) 746-2999
900 Exposition 
Boulevard                                                email: lharris at nhm.org
Los Angeles, California 90007 U.S.A.
website: http://www.nhm.org/research/annelida/index.html
http://www.nhm.org/guana/bvi-invt/home.htm