Working environment factors
How does Chloral hydrate affect workers’ health?
Nov
Chloral hydrate (C2H3Cl3O2) is a chemical commonly used in many industries, but it also poses a potential risk to the health of workers. This article will help you better understand the impact of Chloral hydrate on health and how to effectively prevent it when working in an environment where this chemical is used.
1. What is Chloral hydrate?
Chloral hydrate, with the chemical formula C2H3Cl3O2, is an organic compound belonging to the chlorohydrate group. It is a colorless or white crystalline solid, readily soluble in water and alcohol. With its characteristic chemical structure, chloral hydrate consists of three chlorine (Cl) atoms, one carbon (C) atom, three hydrogen (H) atoms, and two oxygen (O) atoms.
This compound is formed when chloral, a liquid containing three chlorine atoms, reacts with water. Chloral hydrate has been used in medicine as a sedative and anesthetic since the 19th century, but today it is also used in the chemical industry, pesticide production, and other industrial processes.
| No. | Chemical Name in Vietnamese | Chemical Name in English | HS Code | CAS Number | Chemical Formula |
| 1. | Cloral hydrat | Chloral hydrate | 29055900 | 302-17-0 | C2H3Cl3O2 |
See more about the chemical safety training service according to Decree 113/2017/ND-CP
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2. Where does Chloral hydrate originate from in the production process?
Chloral hydrate can originate from various sources during the production process, especially in industries that use this chemical as a raw material or in production processes involving chlorides. In production, chloral hydrate is primarily created when chloral, a compound containing three chlorine atoms, reacts with water. This reaction commonly occurs in chemical plants or pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, where chloral is used to synthesize other organic compounds.
Additionally, in some industries such as pesticide manufacturing, chloral hydrate may also be used as a component in the production process. In these factories, chloral hydrate can be formed during certain chemical stages, especially when there is a combination of chlorine-containing substances and solvents. Furthermore, pharmaceutical plants and medical facilities may also generate chloral hydrate when preparing sedatives and anesthetics.
3. Industries that use Chloral hydrate in production
Chloral hydrate is used in many industries, particularly those that use chemicals to produce pharmaceutical products, chemicals, and pesticides. In the pharmaceutical industry, this compound is mainly used to produce sedatives and anesthetics. These applications require the production of chloral hydrate in pharmaceutical plants, where employees must ensure strict adherence to occupational safety regulations.
The chemical industry is also one of the sectors that use chloral hydrate in production. It is an important component in the synthesis of other organic compounds or as a raw material in the production of some specialty chemicals. Chemical manufacturing facilities may use chloral hydrate in chemical reactions to create by-products or as a catalyst in chemical processes.
In addition, chloral hydrate is also used in the pesticide manufacturing industry, where it plays a role in creating crop protection products. The pesticide production process may involve chloral hydrate when the chemical components in the product react with each other.
4. How does Chloral hydrate affect workers?
Exposure to chloral hydrate can cause many adverse health effects for workers, especially when safety measures are not followed. This chemical can be absorbed through the skin, inhaled, or ingested, and depending on the level of exposure, it can cause serious health problems.
When inhaling chloral hydrate dust or vapor, workers may experience symptoms such as difficulty breathing, coughing, respiratory irritation, and a feeling of suffocation. These symptoms can worsen with prolonged or high-level exposure. Additionally, if it comes into direct contact with the skin or eyes, chloral hydrate can cause irritation or skin burns, red eyes, and a burning sensation.
For workers with frequent or long-term exposure, more serious effects can include neurological and digestive system problems. Chloral hydrate can cause dizziness, headaches, fatigue, and in severe cases, it can affect the central nervous system, leading to drowsiness, delirium, or even a coma. If ingested, this chemical can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, and digestive disorders.
5. Permissible safe concentration of Chloral hydrate for human exposure
When using chloral hydrate in production processes, determining the permissible safe concentration for human exposure is very important to protect workers’ health. According to international occupational safety standards, the concentration of chloral hydrate in the air must not exceed the permissible limit, in order to minimize the risk of harm to health.
Organizations such as OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists) have issued maximum permissible exposure concentration guidelines for this chemical. The long-term exposure limit (TWA – Time Weighted Average) for chloral hydrate in the air is generally recommended to be 0.5 mg/m³. This means that the concentration of chloral hydrate in the workplace air should not exceed 0.5 mg per cubic meter of air during an 8-hour work shift.
In addition, the safe concentration for skin contact also needs to be closely monitored and controlled. If the concentration of chloral hydrate exceeds this level, workers may experience severe irritation symptoms or long-term health problems.
On a basic level, when working in an industrial environment, it is important to comply with safety standards and limit exposure to Chloral hydrate. Organizations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States provide guidelines and safety principles to protect workers from the negative effects of chemical substances.
6. Measures to mitigate the influence of Chloral hydrate on workers’ health
To minimize the impact of chloral hydrate on workers’ health, safety measures must be strictly implemented in the workplace. First and foremost, manufacturing facilities need to establish an effective ventilation system to ensure that the air in work areas is always well-circulated, limiting the accumulation of the chemical in the air. This helps to reduce the risk of workers inhaling chloral hydrate dust or vapor.
In addition to improving air conditions, providing personal protective equipment for workers is extremely important. Equipment such as respirators, chemical-resistant gloves, protective clothing, and safety goggles must be used fully throughout the work process. This equipment not only helps prevent direct contact with chloral hydrate but also minimizes the risk of poisoning through the skin or eyes.
Furthermore, facilities need to organize regular training for workers on preventive measures and how to handle incidents related to this chemical. Educating and raising awareness among employees about the harms of chloral hydrate, as well as safety protection methods, is a crucial part of minimizing exposure risk.
In particular, companies need to conduct periodic health checks for workers to detect early signs of excessive exposure to chloral hydrate. Measures such as checking the concentration of chloral hydrate in the air and monitoring occupational health will help to identify problems in a timely manner and take corrective action.
Finally, replacing chloral hydrate with safer chemicals in the production process can be a long-term solution to protect workers’ health. Companies need to research and apply new technologies to reduce their dependence on toxic chemicals, thereby protecting the health of their employees in the most effective way.
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 adherence to safety rules.
Periodically organize occupational environment monitoring in factories and enterprises, to collect and analyze factors harmful to workers, thereby adjusting to reduce the level of hazard to prevent occupational diseases for them.
7. National Occupational Environment Monitoring Center
Nam Viet’s Occupational Environment Monitoring Center is a professional unit for 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 measurement equipment, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
REGISTER FOR OCCUPATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MONITORING SERVICE
In addition to providing monitoring services, the center also assists clients in planning, handling, and tracking occupational environment issues. With the motto “the customer is the center,” the center is concerned with customer satisfaction, meets all customer needs, and is committed to providing the best solutions for businesses.
With investment in technology, engineering, 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 options possible.
- Along with a team of experienced Masters and Engineers who are passionate about protecting the environment and benefiting businesses.
- By choosing 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 advantages.
8. Quotation for Occupational Environment Monitoring
To help businesses carry out occupational environment monitoring professionally and effectively, Nam Viet provides our customers with a quality and reasonably priced quotation for occupational environment monitoring services.
- Our quotation provides detailed information about the prices of the monitoring services we offer. It includes all costs related to travel, measurement, analysis, and reporting of results. Our customers can be completely confident in the accuracy and reliability of the monitoring result reports we provide.
- We are committed to always offering the most competitive and reasonable prices on the market, and we are also always ready to provide consultation and answer any questions about monitoring services quickly and professionally.
- With Nam Viet’s quotation, our customers can easily choose service packages that suit their needs. We are committed to providing our customers with the highest satisfaction through professional service quality.
