Hello all,
I am working in a ochem lab over the summer as a grad student. I've interned in very similar labs as an undergrad as well. The only difference besides the level of the chemistry I am doing, is the hours I spend in the lab (7-8 hours, 6-7 days a week).
The unfortunate thing is, I am quite sensitive to acetone. I figured this out early on as an undergrad and now it is coming back to haunt me. I am sort of the "new guy" so I am trying to make a good impression working my ass off, helping others clean, running multiple reactions, etc.
A lot of the cleaning involves copious amounts of acetone and it is causing me some problems. Since I've started, I have had a sort of chronic sinus infection that antibiotics won't help, along with small but frequent nose bleed and nasal pain.
I am at my wits end. I love what I am doing and the people I work with, but I feel I am getting steadily more ill to the point where I am developing a low grade fever. I've been self treating the symptoms, but I am worried one day I will get a gushing nosebleed in the lab and have some trouble. Additionally, feeling mildly to moderately sick every day has taken a toll on the quality of my work and my interest in it.
I freaking LOVE ochem and the lab I am in now. Too add to the dilemma, another member of our group is a good friend of mine, she basically got me into this position based on her recommending me. I'm just guessing but I think their might be something between us that might develop as we work together more.
Sorry for the TL:DR, thanks to anyone willing to read this far. I know this forum has a lot of guys with vast amounts of hands on experience, so I'd appreciate any recommendations as to how I might be better able to cope with current environment I am working in (in terms of acetone exposure).
Any feedback would be VERY MUCH appreciated. I may try a saline was later but that's about the end of the line as far as my ideas as to how to improve this situation.
Thanks again for reading this long post, any feedback would be much appreciated.