White coats are a popular uniform in the medical and research industries due to the various benefits they provide. While doctors and researchers in the 19th century wore gray robes, the advent of microbiology and an understanding of the dangers of infections led to improvements in their attire.
British doctor Joseph Liszt replaced the gray robes with white coats, and since then, the popularity of white coats has only grown.
One of the primary benefits of white coats is the warning function they provide. The white color represents cleanliness, reminding wearers to maintain a clean and organized laboratory. This reduces the risk of environmental pollution and safety hazards caused by scattered drugs.
Wearing a white coat also promotes carefulness in experimentation, as the wearer tries to prevent the coat from getting dirty. This can prevent accidents and dangers caused by carelessness. Additionally, white coats create a professional image, giving the wearer an aura of responsibility, rigor, and expertise, which wins the trust of others.
Another benefit of white coats is the protection they provide to clothes and skin. During experiments, it is common for medicine to spill, but white coats can protect clothing and skin from accidental contamination. The white color also makes it easy to detect and change the coat if it becomes contaminated, reducing the risk of exposure to hazardous substances.
White coats also serve as a colorimetric standard for chemical majors. When studying the physical properties of substances, it can be difficult to distinguish their color or concentration. However, using a white coat as a background can make it easier to distinguish between different substances.
Finally, white coats can also prevent static electricity, which is a common problem with fiber fabrics. Many organic reagents and industries require the absence of static electricity, and non-conductive white coats can help reduce this risk to some extent.
In conclusion, the popularity of white coats in the medical and research industries can be attributed to the various benefits they provide, such as promoting cleanliness, carefulness, a professional image, protection, and reducing the risk of exposure to hazardous substances and static electricity.