Working environment factors
How does Ammonium Persulfate affect workers’ health?
Nov
This article will delve into the issue of ammonium persulfate and its impact on worker health. Ammonium persulfate, a chemical substance widely used in various industries, can offer many advantages but also poses significant potential risks. We will explore how ammonium persulfate affects the health of workers, from fundamental issues to the safety measures that must be implemented to minimize risks and protect the health of those working in this environment.
1. What is Ammonium persulfate?
Ammonium persulfate (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ is a chemical compound widely used in various applications, especially in the fields of chemistry and industry. It is the ammonium salt of peroxodisulfuric acid (H₂S₂O₈). Ammonium persulfate typically appears as a white powder and is soluble in water.
One of the common applications of ammonium persulfate is in the polymerization process of acrylic and vinyl resins, where it is used as an initiator. It is also used in oxidation processes, paper bleaching, and in the production of cleaning solutions.
However, it should be noted that ammonium persulfate is a strong chemical and must be handled with caution to ensure safety during use and handling.
| No. | Chemical Name in Vietnamese | Chemical Name in English | HS Code | CAS Number | Chemical Formula |
| 1. | Amoni persunphat | Ammonium persulfate | 28334000 | 7727-54-0 | H8N2O8S2 |
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2. Where does Ammonium persulfate originate from in the production process?
Ammonium persulfate can be produced through the oxidation of sulfuric acid with ammonia, followed by condensation separation and purification to obtain the final product. Below is the chemical equation representing this process:
2 NH3 + 2 H2SO4 + O2 → 2 H2O + (NH4)2S2O8
Where:
- NH3 is ammonia,
- H2SO4 is sulfuric acid,
- O2 is oxygen.
This reaction produces ammonium persulfate and water. The product can then be purified and cleaned to ensure high quality and remove harmful impurities.
3. Industries that use Ammonium persulfate in production
Ammonium persulfate (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ is widely used in many different industries due to its oxidizing properties and ability to initiate chemical processes. Here are some main industries that use ammonium persulfate in their production processes:
- Polymer Industry:
- Ammonium persulfate is often used as an initiator in the polymerization process of acrylic and vinyl resins. It helps start the polymerization and create polymers with desired properties.
- Electronics Manufacturing:
- In the electronics industry, ammonium persulfate is used to etch metals like copper on printed circuit boards (PCBs), helping to create precise electronic circuits.
- Food Processing:
- Ammonium persulfate may be used in some food processing applications, such as in the beer production process to remove sediment.
- Paper Production:
- In the paper industry, ammonium persulfate is used in the paper bleaching process.
- Cleaning Solution Production:
- It can also be used in the production of cleaning solutions and other personal care products.
4. How does Ammonium persulfate affect workers?
Ammonium persulfate can affect the health of workers in work environments when not handled and used properly. Here are some safety issues that need to be considered:
- Skin and eye irritation:
- Direct contact with ammonium persulfate can cause irritation to the skin and eyes. If appropriate personal protective equipment is not worn, workers may experience redness, itching, or peeling skin. Eye contact can cause severe irritation, even damage, if not treated promptly.
- Respiratory:
- Ammonium persulfate dust can irritate the respiratory tract and may cause mild tissue damage to the respiratory system. This can lead to problems such as rhinitis, or if exposure is prolonged and intense, it can cause respiratory issues.
- Overall health effects:
- Long-term and unsafe exposure to ammonium persulfate can affect the general health of workers, especially if they do not follow safety measures and exposure limit regulations.
To minimize risks and ensure worker safety, safety measures such as wearing personal protective equipment, using respiratory protection, and strictly following safe work procedures must be implemented when handling ammonium persulfate.
5. Permissible safe concentration of Ammonium persulfate for human exposure
At a basic level, if working in an industrial environment, adhering to safety standards and limiting exposure to Ammonium persulfate is important. Organizations like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States provide guidelines and safety principles to protect workers from the negative impacts of chemical substances.
However, here are some general guidelines regarding safe concentrations for ammonium persulfate:
- Airborne:
- The safe airborne concentration for ammonium persulfate is usually set at a very low level, and limiting exposure to ammonium persulfate vapor and dust is important. This concentration is typically measured in units like mg/m³.
- Skin and eye contact:
- For direct skin and eye contact, the safe concentration depends on the product type and exposure time. To ensure safety, workers should use personal protective equipment and follow specific safety rules.
For the most detailed and accurate information, workers should consult the safety data sheets provided by the manufacturer, as well as refer to the regulations and guidelines of local occupational safety agencies.
6. Measures to minimize the impact of Ammonium persulfate on worker health
To minimize the impact of ammonium persulfate on worker health, safety measures and work procedures must be strictly implemented. Here are some risk mitigation measures:
- Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
- All workers should wear personal protective equipment such as safety goggles, gloves, chemical-resistant clothing, and respiratory protection masks to protect eyes, skin, and respiratory tract from direct contact with ammonium persulfate.
- Occupational safety training:
- Provide comprehensive safety training and information to workers, including safety measures, correct work procedures, and how to handle incidents. Employees need to know how to use, store, and handle ammonium persulfate safely.
- Safe Work Procedures:
- Develop and implement safe work procedures for the use of ammonium persulfate. This includes how to handle, store, and transport this substance safely.
- Risk Management:
- Assess and manage risks associated with ammonium persulfate. Identify areas with potentially high exposure and apply risk control measures in those areas.
- Vacuum and Ventilation Systems:
- Use vacuum and ventilation systems to reduce the amount of ammonium persulfate vapor and dust in the work air.
- Periodic Inspections:
- Conduct periodic inspections to ensure equipment, systems, and work procedures are still operating effectively and safely.
- Incident Response:
- Be prepared and know how to handle incidents if any risks or objections arise.
Periodically organize workplace environment monitoring in factories and enterprises, collect and analyze factors harmful to workers, thereby adjusting to reduce hazard levels to prevent occupational diseases for them.
7. National occupational environment monitoring center
Nam Viet’s occupational environment monitoring center is a professional unit specializing in monitoring and measuring the quality of the working environment across all provinces in Vietnam. With a team of experienced monitoring specialists, the center uses modern measuring equipment, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
REGISTER FOR OCCUPATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MONITORING SERVICES
In addition to providing monitoring services, the center also supports clients in planning, handling, and tracking occupational environment issues. With the motto “the customer is the center,” the center cares about customer satisfaction, meets all customer needs, and commits to providing the best solutions for businesses.
With investment in techniques, technology, and human resources, Nam Viet’s monitoring center has become one of the reputable units in the field of occupational environment monitoring in Ho Chi Minh City with the following objectives:
- We always value our brand reputation and the quality of our products and services.
- We provide customers with the best and most suitable things possible.
- Along with a team of experienced and specialized Masters and Engineers with a desire to protect the environment and benefit businesses.
- Coming to Nam Viet’s Environmental Monitoring team, your company will receive professional service from experts in the monitoring field. At the same time, you will get the best cost incentives.
8. Occupational environment monitoring quotation
To help businesses conduct occupational environment monitoring professionally and effectively, Nam Viet provides customers with a quality and reasonably priced quotation for occupational environment monitoring services.
- Our monitoring quotation provides detailed information about the prices of the monitoring services we offer. This includes all costs related to travel, measurement, analysis, and reporting of results. Customers can be completely assured of the accuracy and reliability of the monitoring result reports we provide.
- We commit to always offering the most competitive and reasonable prices on the market, and we are also always ready to advise and answer any questions about monitoring services quickly and professionally.
- With Nam Viet’s monitoring quotation, customers can easily choose service packages that suit their needs. We are committed to bringing our customers the highest satisfaction with professional quality service.
