Working environment factors
How does Ethylbenzene affect workers’ health?
May
In this article, we will explore the impact of Ethylbenzene (C8H10) on the health of workers in manufacturing plants that use this chemical. Learn about the risks and health protection measures in the workplace. Read now to protect yourself and your colleagues!
1. What is Ethylbenzene?
Ethylbenzene is an organic compound with the molecular formula C8H10. It is considered an analog of benzene, where one hydrogen atom of benzene is replaced by an ethyl group (C2H5). Ethylbenzene has many characteristic physical and chemical properties and plays an important role in many fields of the chemical industry.
| No. | Chemical Name in Vietnamese | Chemical Name in English | HS Code | CAS Number | Chemical Formula |
| 1. | Etyl benzen | Ethylbenzene | 29026000 | 100-41-4 | C8H10 |
See more chemical safety training services according to Decree 113/2017/ND-CP
REGISTER FOR CHEMICAL OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY TRAINING ACCORDING TO DECREE 113
2. Where does Ethylbenzene originate from in the production process?
Ethylbenzene is mainly produced through the alkylation of benzene with ethylene (C2H4) – a chemical reaction between these two molecules. Alkylation is the process of replacing a hydrogen atom in a molecule with an alkyl group (like ethyl in this case).
The production of ethylbenzene typically occurs under specific temperature and pressure conditions, using catalysts to increase reaction efficiency. Two common alkylation methods are:
- Liquid-phase alkylation: uses aluminum chloride (AlCl3) as a catalyst.
- Vapor-phase alkylation: uses synthetic zeolite or Lewis acid as a catalyst.
Both methods help convert benzene and ethylene into ethylbenzene. However, depending on the reaction conditions and catalyst, the resulting product may be accompanied by other benzene analogs such as diethylbenzene (C10H14).
3. Industries that use Ethylbenzene in production
Ethylbenzene plays an important role as a raw material for many different industries. Its main application is the production of styrene (C8H8), an important monomer compound. Styrene is then polymerized to form polystyrene (PS) – a solid, transparent plastic with a wide range of applications. PS plastic is used to produce many everyday essential products, including:
- Packaging materials: food containers, plastic cups, food wrap, foam trays…
- Household products: children’s toys, electronic device casings, kitchen utensils…
- Construction industry: roofing sheets, insulation materials, water pipes…
- Industry: production of tires, automotive components, medical devices…
In addition, ethylbenzene is also used to a limited extent in some other cases such as:
- As a solvent in the printing and paint industries.
- As a diluent component in gasoline production.
- As an intermediate in the synthesis of other organic compounds.
However, it should be noted that ethylbenzene is a flammable and explosive substance and can cause adverse health effects if exposed to frequently. Therefore, industries using ethylbenzene need to have safe production processes and comply with environmental protection regulations.
4. How does Ethylbenzene affect workers?
Ethylbenzene is classified as a toxic substance to human health, especially with long-term exposure or at high concentrations. The effects of ethylbenzene can occur in many body systems, including:
- Respiratory system: Exposure to ethylbenzene vapor can cause respiratory irritation, leading to symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing, sore throat, runny nose. In severe cases, it can cause pneumonia.
- Nervous system: People exposed to ethylbenzene may experience symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, headache, nausea, sleep disorders, and reduced concentration. More dangerously, long-term exposure can cause impaired neurological function.
- Hearing: Research shows that ethylbenzene can cause hearing damage, leading to hearing loss.
- Kidneys: Exposure to ethylbenzene can affect kidney function, causing problems with excretion and blood filtration.
In addition, some studies are continuing to investigate the long-term health effects of ethylbenzene, including its potential to cause cancer. Therefore, limiting exposure to ethylbenzene in the workplace is essential to protect workers’ health.
5. Permissible safe concentration of Ethylbenzene for human exposure
There is currently no absolute number for a completely safe concentration of ethylbenzene for human exposure. However, health and occupational safety organizations provide occupational exposure limits (OELs) to protect workers’ health.
Some commonly referenced standards include:
- ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists): Specifies the Time-Weighted Average (TWA) concentration of ethylbenzene for an 8-hour workday as 100 ppm (parts per million by volume).
- OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration): The Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for ethylbenzene is also 100 ppm for an 8-hour workday.
At a basic level, if working in an industrial environment, it is important to comply with safety standards and limit exposure to Ethylbenzene. Organizations like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States provide safety guidelines and principles to protect workers from the negative impacts of chemical substances.
6. Measures to minimize the effects of Ethylbenzene on workers’ health
Ethylbenzene is a toxic substance, so limiting exposure to it in the workplace is extremely important. Below are some effective measures to minimize the effects of Ethylbenzene on workers’ health:
1.Engineering controls:
- Local exhaust ventilation: Install local exhaust ventilation systems at locations where Ethylbenzene is generated during the production process. This helps remove the substance from the air at the source, minimizing the concentration of Ethylbenzene in the environment.
- Substitute Ethylbenzene: If possible, safer alternatives to Ethylbenzene should be sought for use in production.
- Maintain equipment systems: Regularly inspect and maintain pipes, valves, and tanks to prevent Ethylbenzene leaks into the environment.
2.Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
- Respirators: Provide workers with respirators appropriate for the concentration of Ethylbenzene in the environment. These respirators must be approved to effectively filter Ethylbenzene.
- Chemical-resistant gloves: Use thick, impermeable gloves to avoid direct skin contact with Ethylbenzene.
- Protective clothing: Wear protective clothing that covers the entire body to prevent Ethylbenzene from splashing onto the skin. Safety goggles should also be used to protect the eyes.
3.Education and training:
- Regularly organize training sessions to raise workers’ awareness of the health risks associated with Ethylbenzene.
- Train on the proper use and maintenance of personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Provide information on safe work procedures to minimize exposure to Ethylbenzene.
4.Regular health monitoring:
- Workers regularly exposed to Ethylbenzene should have regular health check-ups to detect any unusual signs promptly.
- Blood and urine tests may be performed to assess the function of the liver, kidneys, and other systems that may be affected by Ethylbenzene.
By applying a combination of the above measures, businesses can significantly reduce health risks for workers when working with Ethylbenzene. A safe and healthy work environment will help improve labor productivity and reduce costs related to health issues.
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 occupational 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 SERVICE
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 focuses on customer satisfaction, meeting all customer needs, and committing 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 our customers with the best and most suitable solutions possible.
- With a team of experienced Masters and Engineers with expertise and a desire to protect the environment and benefit businesses.
- Coming to the Nam Viet 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. Quotation for occupational environment monitoring
To help businesses perform occupational environment monitoring professionally and effectively, Nam Viet provides customers with a quality and reasonably priced service quotation table for occupational environment monitoring.
- Our monitoring quotation table provides detailed information on 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.
- 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 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.
