Explore the impact of ethyl bromoacetate (C4H7O2Br) on the health of workers in a manufacturing plant environment. This article will delve into understanding this chemical and its health effects, providing a comprehensive and updated overview of this issue.
1. What is Ethyl bromoacetate?
Ethyl bromoacetate is an organic compound with the molecular formula C4H7O2Br. It is an ester of bromoacetic acid and ethanol. Ethyl bromoacetate is a colorless to slightly pale yellow liquid with a characteristic pungent odor.
Structurally, ethyl bromoacetate has a bromine atom bonded to the carbonyl group (C=O) of bromoacetic acid, while the ester group is formed from the bond between the remainder of the bromoacetic acid and the ethyl group (C2H5) of ethanol.
| No. | Chemical name in Vietnamese | Chemical name in English | HS Code | CAS Number | Chemical Formula |
| 1. | Etyl brom axetat | Ethyl bromoacetate | 29159090 | 105-36-2 | C4H7O2Br |
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2. Where does Ethyl bromoacetate originate from in the production process?
Ethyl bromoacetate (EBA) is formed as an unwanted byproduct during the production of ethyl ester of acetic acid by the reaction between ethanol and acetyl bromide. The main desired reaction produces ethyl acetate (EtOAc), an ester widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, and paint industries. However, due to the reactive nature of acetyl bromide, a small amount of EBA will be formed along with EtOAc.
In addition, EBA can also be formed during the production of other compounds using acetyl bromide as a reactant. Acetyl bromide is an important reaction intermediate and is used in many different industries. In some cases, EBA may be created due to unwanted reactions between acetyl bromide and other components in the reaction mixture or due to the decomposition of acetyl bromide over time.

3. Industries that use Ethyl bromoacetate in production
Ethyl bromoacetate is a versatile organic compound with many applications in various industries. Here are some typical examples:
- Pharmaceutical industry: Ethyl bromoacetate serves as an important intermediate in the synthesis of many pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics, anticancer drugs, and drugs for neurological diseases. The flexible reactive properties of Ethyl bromoacetate allow scientists to create molecules with complex structures and desired biological activity.
- Dye manufacturing industry: Ethyl bromoacetate is used to produce many types of industrial dyes, providing a variety of colors for fabrics, plastics, and other materials. The ability of Ethyl bromoacetate to bind with different molecules helps create colorfast and durable dyes.
- Plastics manufacturing industry: Ethyl bromoacetate is one of the important precursors in the synthesis of polyester and epoxy resins. These resins are widely used in many applications such as manufacturing bottles, household goods, construction materials, and electronic components. Ethyl bromoacetate helps improve the properties of plastics such as hardness, durability, and chemical resistance.
- Agriculture industry: Ethyl bromoacetate is used to prepare some types of pesticides and herbicides. The bactericidal properties of Ethyl bromoacetate help control pests that harm crops. However, the use of Ethyl bromoacetate in agriculture needs to be strictly controlled to ensure safety for the environment and human health.
- Scientific research: Ethyl bromoacetate is an important material used in research laboratories to synthesize new organic compounds and study chemical reactions. The flexibility and ease of modification of Ethyl bromoacetate help scientists discover new applications in many different fields.
4. How does Ethyl bromoacetate affect workers?
Ethyl bromoacetate is a compound that can cause many negative effects on workers’ health if not handled carefully. Here are some ways that Ethyl bromoacetate can affect workers:
- Respiration: When exposed to Ethyl bromoacetate vapor or dust, workers may experience respiratory problems. Common symptoms include respiratory irritation, coughing, difficulty breathing, and sore throat. In severe cases, exposure to Ethyl bromoacetate can lead to pulmonary edema (fluid accumulation in the lungs).
- Skin and eyes: Ethyl bromoacetate is corrosive and irritating to the skin and eyes. Direct contact with this substance can cause symptoms such as burning, redness, and blistering. If Ethyl bromoacetate splashes into the eyes, it should be rinsed immediately with clean water for at least 15 minutes and taken to a medical facility for timely treatment.
- Other effects: In addition, exposure to Ethyl bromoacetate can also cause other health effects such as nausea, dizziness, and headache. If exposed to Ethyl bromoacetate for a long time and at high concentrations, it can cause more serious problems with the liver, kidneys, and nervous system.
To ensure worker safety, appropriate preventive measures must be in place when handling Ethyl bromoacetate.
5. Permissible safe concentration of Ethyl bromoacetate for human exposure
Ethyl bromoacetate (EBA) is a chemical compound that can cause adverse health effects to humans if exposed at high concentrations. To ensure safety, regulatory agencies have established regulations on the maximum permissible concentration of EBA exposure in the workplace. This concentration is called the Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL).
Currently, there is no unified global standard for the permissible safe concentration of EBA exposure. However, some organizations provide different recommended levels, such as:
- ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists): Has not established an OEL value for EBA.
- NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health – USA): The recommended exposure limit (REL) is 0.1 ppm (0.33 mg/m³) for 8 hours/day and 40 hours/week.
- DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft – Germany): Does not classify EBA in the category of substances requiring exposure limits.
Although recommendations for EBA concentrations may vary between organizations, they all generally emphasize the need to limit exposure to EBA to the lowest possible level.
In addition, other factors such as exposure time, route of exposure (skin, respiratory,…) also affect the hazard level of EBA. Therefore, it is always necessary to refer to the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for EBA to have appropriate preventive measures.

At a basic level, if working in an industrial environment, it is important to comply with safety standards and limit exposure to Ethyl bromoacetate. 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 bromoacetate on workers’ health
Measures to minimize the effects of Ethyl bromoacetate on workers’ health are an important issue that needs to be considered and implemented carefully. Ethyl bromoacetate is a chemical compound used in many industrial applications such as the production of dyes, flavors, and pesticides. However, exposure to Ethyl bromoacetate can cause serious health problems for workers, including the risk of cancer.
An important measure to minimize the impact of Ethyl bromoacetate is to ensure strict compliance with occupational safety and environmental hygiene regulations during the use of this substance. This includes providing adequate personal protective equipment for workers such as goggles, masks, and gloves, as well as training them on how to use and handle Ethyl bromoacetate safely.
In addition, establishing safe and effective work procedures is also an indispensable part of minimizing the health effects of Ethyl bromoacetate on workers. These measures may include reducing exposure to this substance through the use of automated equipment or closed packaging systems and ensuring proper cleaning and waste disposal procedures.
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 needs to 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 the hazard level to prevent occupational diseases for them.
7. Nationwide workplace environment monitoring center
Workplace environment monitoring center of Nam Viet 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.
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In addition to providing monitoring services, the center also supports customers in planning, handling, and tracking workplace environment issues. With the motto “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 been and is becoming 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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- Coming to the Nam Viet Environmental Monitoring team, your company will receive professional service with experts in the field of monitoring. At the same time, you will get the best cost incentives.
8. Quotation for workplace environment monitoring
To help businesses perform workplace environment monitoring professionally and effectively, Nam Viet provides customers with a quality and reasonably priced quotation table for workplace environment monitoring services.
- Our monitoring quotation table provides detailed information on the prices of the monitoring services we offer. Including 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 always ready to advise and answer any questions about monitoring services quickly and professionally.
- With Nam Viet’s monitoring quotation table, customers can easily choose service packages that suit their needs. We are committed to bringing customers the highest satisfaction with professional service quality.

