I believe that I am a reasonably good and experienced analytical chemist and can state that the costs associated with a chemical analysis of this nature will be in the neighborhood of $50,000 and take months.  Most of that will be for the development of the analysis , but it is not impossible that each performance might have to have an analysis because conditions change, and the analysis is unlikely to be instantaneous.  Our science has not progressed to the point where we can point an instrument and make instantaneous analyses. 

 

If there is liability, like the possibility that someone gets ill because the analysis missed a compound or a microbe  then the costs will rise even further.

 

Is a pool of colored water that people walked in for several minutes much different than bath water that can be sent down the drain?  If our community of waste disposal experts know the answer, then perhaps the theater’s prop department can just make up a fresh batch for each performance.  Dye is cheap. 

 

 

 

 

Monona,

 

You are correct about the usual background of IHs, and most responses to your request seem to have ignored that.  Your Hunter College Professor may be able to point you to a good analytical chemist.  This really requires someone who has been working in the real world of chemistry for a number of years.

 

My employer has a really good analytical chemist who is called upon for simpler but similar assessments at times.   I’ll see if he can suggest someone in the down state region.

 

 

Peter Zavon, CIH
Penfield, NY

PZAVON**At_Symbol_Here**Rochester.rr.com

 

 

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of ACTSNYC**At_Symbol_Here**CS.COM
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2012 4:30 PM
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Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Need a consulting organic chemist on safety issue

 

I know some of them.  IH's are wonderful at determining risk once they know what the chemicals are.  They would be great at figuring out to analyse the soup once it was sitting there.  But they are not usually versed in chemistry to the point that they could predict the breakdown products in a complex soup like this.  Maybe no one can especially after you add athlete's foot to the mix. 

However, I shall take my original inquiry and e-mail it to an emeritus prof from Hunter's school of IH who I know particularly well and see what he says.  It shouldn't hurt. Thanks for the idea.

Monona


In a message dated 12/3/2012 1:48:17 PM Eastern Standard Time, afrazier**At_Symbol_Here**PPG.COM writes:

This is the best suggestion that I have seen, use a screen shot in the back ground for the feet (at worst it would only have to be shot once or twice not repeated use.)   Isn't it common to use things like that as part of theater these days? 
If you are looking for a credentialed consultant, have you considered calling a friendly Industrial Hygiene Professor?    A quick search of ABET accredited Industrial Hygiene programs showed Hunter College of the City University of New York as having an IH program.