Decontamination of Ethidium Bromide Spills

Abstract Samples of stainless steel, Formica, glass, and vinyl floor tile and the filters of transilluminators were contaminated with ethidium bromide and cleaned either by wiping once with a paper towel soaked in an aqueous solution of sodium nitrite and hypophosphorous acid followed by five wipes with wet towels or by wiping six times with only wet paper towels. The used paper towels were soaked in an aqueous solution of sodium nitrite and hypophosphorous acid. After this treatment, no traces of ethidium bromide were found (< 0.026%), and the reaction mixtures were not mutagenic.