Here's One Big Reason Why Scientists Wear White Lab Coats

When you walk into a science laboratory, the first things that you might notice are the bunsen burners, centrifuges, lab equipment used for liquids, and microscopes all placed neatly in their proper places. What might not stand out to you is the safety equipment, even though it is critical to any science lab. While you might see those who work with dangerous substances wearing biohazard suits, most scientists wear a plain white lab coat for personal protection.

The primary protection that lab coats provide scientists is preventing whatever substances they are working with from getting on their clothes and skin in case of a spill. Most of the time, this attire is made with cotton and polyester, but a variety of fabrics may be used. These materials work well because they're excellent at repelling chemicals and liquids, and they won't melt easily if they catch fire and have to be removed quickly. In addition to these properties, lab coats have long sleeves with cuffs and collars. All of these components reduce skin exposure risks.

Lab coats offer protection to more than just the scientists who wear them, too. Since this part of the work uniform is stored at the labs, any contaminants that might be on the coats stay in the lab rather than spreading.

It's logical that scientists wear lab coats to protect their clothes and skin, but why is the primary color white? While not all lab workers wear a white coat over their regular clothes, this color is the most ideal because it's excellent at reflecting light. Actually, this color reflects more light than any other. That makes it easy to see when chemicals and liquids have splashed or spilled on the garment, making it evident that a cleanup is necessary to avoid infections and mitigate contamination issues.

Believe it or not, white is also the primary choice for lab coats because it's an easy color to maintain. When substances stain colored fabrics, special cleaning methods are required. You can't just use bleach or other chemical cleaners because it would damage the color. It's much easier to use these cleaners on white fabrics to keep them looking fresh. On top of that, white is a symbol of cleanliness and purity, which demonstrates that the wearers — scientists, in this case — prioritize hygiene. It's just an added bonus that white lab coats are versatile and complement whatever colors the regular clothes are underneath.

Scientists aren't the only professionals who wear white lab coats. For instance, it's part of the uniform across the medical community, particularly among doctors in the United States. However, scientists were the first to wear white coats.

While the origins of the lab coat being white aren't precisely known, it's widely agreed that scientists started wearing them in the 1800s. They were highly respected by royalty and the general public at the time. Meanwhile, physicians were wearing black — a reflection of how important and serious their work was, but to the masses, this color was mainly associated with death, portraying a grim image rather than one of hope. Medical standards were also greatly lacking compared to the modern day, with largely ineffective bloodletting being one example of crazy medical treatments from the past. And, it didn't help that scientists often discredited the medicine and ointments that physicians prescribed as worthless.

As a result, many doctors started implementing scientific methods in their practices. To signify this fresh start and impart a sense of hope to patients, they switched to wearing white lab coats. By the late 1800s and early 1900s, this color had become a symbol of cleanliness and precision. One of the earliest depictions is in an 1889 painting by Joseph Eakins called "The Agnew Clinic," but the white lab coat became even more prominent following the first white coat ceremony to induct medical school students into the field in 1989. Now, it's so common that most people associate it with educated and qualified professionalism.