Working environment factors
How does Ethyl Acrylate affect workers’ health?
May
Ethyl acrylate (C5H8O2) is an organic compound widely used in the production of plastics, paints, and other chemical products. However, few people know that this chemical poses many potential health risks to workers in a production environment. This article will delve into analyzing the negative health effects of ethyl acrylate and propose essential protective measures for workers.
1. What is Ethyl acrylate?
Ethyl acrylate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula C5H8O2. It is an acrylate ester, meaning it contains an acrylate functional group (-COOCH2CH3). This chemical formula indicates the molecular structure of ethyl acrylate, including the number and arrangement of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in the molecule. In this case, ethyl acrylate has 5 carbon atoms, 8 hydrogen atoms, and 2 oxygen atoms per molecule.
Ethyl acrylate is a colorless liquid with a characteristic acrid odor. Produced primarily through the esterification reaction between acrylic acid and ethanol, ethyl acrylate is widely used in industrial applications such as the production of acrylic polymers, adhesives, and coatings. The chemical versatility of ethyl acrylate has made it an important raw material in manufacturing polymer products with elastic and water-resistant properties, while also providing good adhesion in adhesive and coating applications.
| No. | Chemical Name in Vietnamese | Chemical Name in English | HS Code | CAS Number | Chemical Formula |
| 1. | Etyl acrylat | Ethyl acrylate | 29161200 | 140-88-5 | C5H8O2 |
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2.Where does Ethyl acrylate originate from in the production process?
Ethyl acrylate (EA) is primarily formed during the production of acrylic acid through the esterification reaction between acrylic acid and ethanol. Acrylic acid, in turn, is mainly produced by the oxidation of propylene. Therefore, the main source of ethyl acrylate depends on the stages in the acrylic acid production process as follows:
- Propylene oxidation reaction: This process does not directly create ethyl acrylate, but propylene can react to form unwanted byproducts such as acrolein. In the subsequent esterification process, acrolein can react with ethanol to form ethyl acrylate.
- Esterification reaction: This is the main reaction that produces the desired ethyl acrylate from acrylic acid and ethanol. However, this reaction is often not complete, so small amounts of acrylic acid and ethanol may remain in the final product.
- Filtration and separation: After the esterification reaction, the resulting mixture needs to undergo filtration and separation processes to remove impurities and byproducts. The efficiency of these processes affects the ethyl acrylate content in the final product.
Ethyl acrylate is mainly created during the esterification of acrylic acid and ethanol. However, its origin can be traced to unwanted byproducts formed during the propylene oxidation process. Additionally, the efficiency of the filtration and separation stages also plays a significant role in influencing the final ethyl acrylate content.
3. Industries that use Ethyl acrylate in production
Ethyl acrylate is a versatile acrylate ester with many applications in industrial production. The outstanding properties of Ethyl acrylate are its excellent adhesion, fast drying, and durability over time, which help improve the quality of many products. Here are some typical industries that use Ethyl acrylate:
- Paint and coatings industry: Ethyl acrylate plays an important role in the production of paints, varnishes, and other coatings. It helps increase the adhesion, gloss, and weather resistance of the coating. As a result, the paint has higher durability, resisting the effects of rain, sun, and harsh environmental factors.
- Plastics industry: Ethyl acrylate is used as a monomer in the synthesis of acrylic resins. Acrylic resin is tough, transparent, and heat-resistant, widely used in the production of household goods, car parts, pipes, and roofing sheets.
- Textile and fabric processing industry: Ethyl acrylate is used as a fabric surface enhancer. It helps make fabric softer, more wrinkle-resistant, and water-resistant. Besides, Ethyl acrylate is also involved in the process of printing patterns on fabric, creating sharpness and colorfastness for the product.
- Adhesives industry: Ethyl acrylate is an important component in the production of adhesives. Thanks to its strong bonding ability, adhesives containing Ethyl acrylate are widely used in various industries, such as packaging, construction, and furniture manufacturing.
- Other industries: In addition, Ethyl acrylate is also used in the production of inks, sealants, and other industrial applications.
4. How does Ethyl acrylate affect workers
Ethyl acrylate is a chemical compound that can affect worker health if exposure occurs at high concentrations or under unsafe conditions. The level of its impact depends on two main factors: exposure concentration and exposure duration.
- Exposure concentration: If the concentration of ethyl acrylate in the surrounding environment exceeds the permissible limit, the health risk will increase. Workers may experience problems with their eyes, skin, and respiratory tract.
- Exposure duration: The duration of exposure to ethyl acrylate also plays an important role. Short-term exposure at low concentrations may not cause significant effects. However, long-term exposure even at low concentrations, or short-term exposure at high concentrations, can be harmful to health.
Common symptoms upon exposure to ethyl acrylate include:
- Eye irritation: red, itchy, watery eyes.
- Skin irritation: itching, burning, red rash.
- Respiratory irritation: coughing, difficulty breathing, sore throat.
In more severe cases, exposure to ethyl acrylate can cause lung problems, such as bronchitis or pulmonary edema.
5. Permissible safe concentration of Ethyl acrylate for human exposure
Ethyl acrylate (EA) is a chemical compound that can cause adverse health effects if exposure occurs at high concentrations. To protect the health of workers in production environments or those likely to be exposed to EA, occupational health agencies have established permissible exposure limits (PELs).
The safe concentration of Ethyl acrylate depends on the duration and intensity of exposure. Typically, exposure limits are calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) and a short-term exposure limit (STEL).
- 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA): This is the average concentration of EA a worker can be safely exposed to for 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week, over their working lifetime. According to the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the TWA for Ethyl acrylate is 50 ppm (parts per million).
- Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL): This is the maximum concentration of EA a worker can be safely exposed to for a short period, typically 15 minutes. NIOSH recommends a STEL for Ethyl acrylate of 100 ppm.
However, it should be noted that these limits are only guidelines and may vary by country and occupational health organization. Other factors such as individual health status, exposure duration, and type of activity can also affect the safe concentration level of Ethyl acrylate.
At a basic level, when working in an industrial environment, it is important to comply with safety standards and limit exposure to Ethyl acrylate. 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.
6. Measures to minimize the effects of Ethyl acrylate on worker health
Ethyl acrylate is a chemical compound that can cause health problems for workers if exposed regularly. Fortunately, there are several effective measures that can help minimize these effects to the lowest possible level.
Workspace Management:
- Improve ventilation system: The most important thing is to ensure good air circulation in the work area. A powerful ventilation system should be installed to exhaust polluted air. Opening windows when weather conditions permit is also a useful method.
- Vacuum extraction system: For areas where a lot of ethyl acrylate vapor is generated, installing a source capture vacuum system will help remove the chemical immediately, preventing it from spreading into the surrounding environment.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
- Protective clothing: Workers should wear protective clothing designed to be resistant to ethyl acrylate. Clothing should be changed frequently, especially after chemical contact.
- Gloves: Use suitable chemical-resistant gloves to protect hands. Choose gloves of the appropriate thickness and material for the concentration of ethyl acrylate in the workplace.
- Safety goggles: Wear tight-fitting safety goggles that cover the entire eye area to avoid contact with ethyl acrylate vapor or liquid.
- Respirator: If the concentration of ethyl acrylate in the air is too high, a respirator with an appropriate filter must be used.
Other measures:
- Worker training: Provide a comprehensive training program for workers on the health risks associated with ethyl acrylate, preventive measures, and the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Regularly monitor ethyl acrylate concentration: Periodically check the concentration of ethyl acrylate in the air to ensure it remains within permissible limits.
- Personal hygiene: Workers should wash their hands frequently with soap and clean water, especially before eating, smoking, or after removing protective clothing.
- Do not eat, drink, or smoke in the work area: This will help prevent accidental ingestion of ethyl acrylate.
By seriously implementing the measures mentioned above, businesses can significantly reduce the health risks for workers exposed to Ethyl acrylate.
Occupational safety training: Workers need to be trained and educated about the risks and safety measures when working with this type of chemical. This training should be provided periodically and regularly to ensure understanding and proper compliance with safety rules.
Periodically organize workplace environment monitoring in factories and enterprises, collect and analyze harmful factors for workers, thereby adjusting to reduce hazard levels to prevent occupational diseases for them.
7. Nationwide workplace environment monitoring center
Nam Viet’s workplace 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 monitoring specialists with extensive experience, the center uses modern measuring equipment, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
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In addition to providing monitoring services, the center also supports clients in planning, handling, and monitoring issues related to the working environment. With the motto “the customer is the center,” the center focuses on 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 workplace environment monitoring in Ho Chi Minh City with the following objectives:
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8. Quotation for workplace environment monitoring
To help businesses conduct workplace environment monitoring professionally and effectively, Nam Viet provides customers with a quotation for workplace environment monitoring services that is high-quality and reasonably priced.
- Our quotation provides detailed information about the prices of the monitoring services we offer. This includes 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.
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