Animal Experiments Using Known or Suspect Carcinogens

Read Chemical Carcinogen Overview to learn how to determine if the substance you intend to use is a known or suspect carcinogen.

• If the material is a known carcinogen, read How to Handle Known Human Carcinogens.
• If the material is a suspect carcinogen, read How to Handle Suspect Human Carcinogens.
• Follow the rest of the steps in this checklist.

• Request prior approval and obtain a risk assessment from:
  • The Animal Subjects Committee, (858) 534-6069, by submitting an online protocol
    and
  • Environment, Health & Safety's chemical safety officer, (858) 822-1579
• If risk assessment shows a reasonable risk to researchers or animal care staff, a meeting of all those at risk or concerned will be held to discuss safety considerations and animal care issues.

A principal investigator (PI) or a knowledgeable designee must provide appropriate safety training.

• Inform employees about handling the drug or chemical, its physical properties (including solubility), and health effects seen in experimental studies and other applicable sources.
  • Review toxicological data from similar compounds if toxicological information is limited.
• Explain possible routes of exposure as appropriate:
  • Inhalation
  • Skin absorption
  • Accidental injection
• Provide and train employees in the proper use of personal protective equipment and engineering controls to prevent exposure.
• Call (858) 534-1086 to provide the Animal Care staff with a summary of the training information.

• Label all containers with the following information:
  • Name of the material
  • Concentration
  • Warnings
  • Protective measures
  • Date, when appropriate
  • Preparer's initials, when appropriate
• Label animal cages with the appropriate hazard communication information below for the first 48 hours following administration of dosing solutions:
  • "Warning: Cancer Agent"
  • "Caution: Cancer Suspect Agent"
  • "Caution: Hazardous Chemical/ Drug"
  Maintain the signage following this initial period, according to this criteria:
  • Aqueous dosing solutions – Once the bedding has been changed, the warning sign can be removed.
  • Oil-soluble dosing solutions – Maintain the signage for 96 hours.

• Injection or gavage: Use syringes and intravenous sets with Luer-lock fittings, if possible, when material is given via injection or gavage.
  • Perform priming into a sterile, alcohol-dampened gauze sponge.
  • Do not prime sets or syringes into the sink or any open receptacle.
  • All animals must be housed in micro-isolator cages.
• Diet: Use a closed-caging system if the substance must be administered in the diet. Mix all diets containing the hazardous material in closed containers inside a chemical fume hood or Class II Type B2 biosafety cabinet.
  • See Biosafety Cabinet Usage Guidelines for more information.

Animal bedding, waste, and water — in addition to waste chemicals —may be subject to hazardous waste disposal requirements.

• Contact the Environmental Management Facility, (858) 534-2753, if you have questions about hazardous waste.
• See How to Request a Hazardous Waste Collection.