Working environment factors
How does Nitroglycerin affect workers’ health?
Jan
Nitroglycerin (C3H5N3O9) – a familiar chemical in production, but few know that it can cause dangerous effects on the health of workers. Let’s explore the hidden risks and how to protect your health when working in an environment where nitroglycerin is used!
1. What is Nitroglycerin?
Nitroglycerin, with the chemical formula C3H5N3O9, is an organic compound containing nitrogen and oxygen. It is a pale yellow or transparent, flammable liquid with a characteristic odor. Nitroglycerin is created by reacting glycerin with nitric acid in an alkaline environment.
In industry, nitroglycerin is primarily known as a component in explosives, due to its ability to create a powerful explosive reaction when exposed to catalysts or high-temperature conditions. However, besides its use in the production of weapons and explosives, nitroglycerin also has applications in medicine. It is used in drug form to treat cardiovascular diseases, particularly in dilating blood vessels, reducing pressure on the heart, and helping to treat coronary artery disease, angina, and heart failure.
Despite its many applications, nitroglycerin is a chemical that can be dangerous if not used and stored correctly. With long-term exposure or in an unsafe environment, it can adversely affect health, especially for workers in manufacturing plants that use this chemical.
| No. | Chemical Name in Vietnamese | Chemical Name in English | HS Code | CAS Number | Chemical Formula |
| 1. | Nitơ glyxerin | Nitroglycerin | 29209090 | 55-63-0 | C3H5N3O9 |
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2. Where does Nitroglycerin originate from in the production process?
During production, nitroglycerin is created by reacting glycerin with nitric acid under tightly controlled conditions. This process typically takes place in reaction vessels where glycerin (C3H8O3) is mixed with nitric acid (HNO3) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) to form nitroglycerin. These chemical reactions produce nitroglycerin as a liquid and can generate heat, so the process must be controlled to avoid explosions due to high temperatures.
In manufacturing plants, nitroglycerin is mainly used in the explosives industry, but it can also be generated in medical facilities during the production of cardiovascular drugs. It should also be noted that in these production processes, nitroglycerin can arise from errors in the preparation process or from non-compliance with safety procedures.
3. Industries that use Nitroglycerin in production
Many industries use nitroglycerin in production due to its special properties, especially in the field of manufacturing explosives. The weapons manufacturing and mining industries are the main sectors where nitroglycerin is used as an ingredient in explosives like dynamite. Mining companies, especially those that excavate rock and ore, often use nitroglycerin to assist in blasting to break up earth and rock.
Additionally, in the medical field, nitroglycerin is also widely used, primarily to produce drugs for cardiovascular diseases, helping to relieve angina and treat conditions related to the cardiovascular system. Drug manufacturers must handle and control nitroglycerin carefully to ensure its safety for medical use.
Furthermore, in some other industries, such as the production of pesticides or food additives, nitroglycerin is sometimes present, although its use is not as frequent as in the aforementioned sectors.
4. How does Nitroglycerin affect workers?
Long-term exposure to nitroglycerin can cause many adverse effects on the health of workers, especially in manufacturing plants that use this chemical. Workers in the explosives manufacturing, chemical processing, or those working with equipment containing nitroglycerin are susceptible to the effects of harmful substances during the production process.
One of the common effects is stimulation and damage to the nervous system, including symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and loss of concentration. This can reduce work performance and increase the risk of occupational accidents. In addition, nitroglycerin can also affect the cardiovascular system of workers. Long-term exposure to this chemical can increase the risk of heart-related diseases, including arrhythmia, low blood pressure, and chest pain.
Other effects include the potential to cause skin and eye problems upon direct contact with nitroglycerin. The chemical can cause skin irritation, leading to rashes or inflammation, and can cause serious injury if it gets in the eyes. Workers exposed to nitroglycerin may also experience respiratory problems, due to the dispersion of toxic gases when this chemical evaporates into the air.
5. Permissible safe concentration of Nitroglycerin for human exposure
The permissible safe concentration of nitroglycerin for human exposure depends on the regulations and guidelines of health and occupational safety organizations. According to occupational safety standards, the concentration of nitroglycerin in the workplace air must not exceed a certain limit to ensure it does not harm the health of workers.
The OSHA (U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has set the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for nitroglycerin at 0.2 mg/m³ for an eight-hour workday. This means that the concentration of nitroglycerin in the air should not exceed this level throughout an eight-hour shift to avoid health damage.
Studies also show that when exposed to concentrations lower than this level, workers can continue to work without experiencing serious health problems. However, long-term exposure or exceeding the prescribed limit can lead to serious health issues, especially for the nervous, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems. Therefore, controlling and monitoring the concentration of nitroglycerin in the work environment is extremely important to ensure the safety of workers.
On a basic level, if working in an industrial environment, it is important to adhere to safety standards and limit exposure to Nitroglycerin. 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 impacts of chemical substances.
6. Measures to minimize the effects of Nitroglycerin on workers’ health
To minimize the effects of nitroglycerin on workers’ health, protective and safety measures in the workplace must be strictly implemented. One of the key measures is controlling the concentration of nitroglycerin in the air, ensuring that it remains below the permissible safe limit. Good ventilation systems and effective air filters will help reduce the accumulation of nitroglycerin in the air, thereby limiting workers’ exposure.
Additionally, providing adequate personal protective equipment is also an important factor. Workers should use respirators, gloves, and eye protection when working in environments where nitroglycerin may be present. This helps minimize direct contact with the chemical, protecting both skin and eyes.
Safety training and education for workers are also necessary measures. Workers need to be equipped with knowledge about the potential hazards of working with nitroglycerin, as well as how to handle emergency situations involving this chemical. Preventive measures and response procedures should be updated regularly to ensure their effectiveness in protecting workers’ health.
Finally, regular health check-ups for workers exposed to nitroglycerin are very important. Medical tests help to detect any abnormal signs early and allow for timely intervention, thereby minimizing the risk of illness for workers.
Occupational safety training: Workers need to be trained and educated on 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, and thereby adjust to reduce hazard levels to prevent occupational diseases for them.
7. National Occupational Environment Monitoring Center
The occupational environment monitoring center of Nam Viet is a professional unit specializing in monitoring and measuring the quality of the occupational 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 assists clients in planning, handling, and tracking occupational environment issues. 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 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 solutions possible.
- With a team of experienced Masters and Engineers with a desire to protect the environment and benefit businesses.
- With 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 conduct occupational environment monitoring professionally and effectively, Nam Viet offers our valued customers a price list for occupational environment monitoring services that is high-quality and reasonably priced.
- Our quotation 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 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 our monitoring services quickly and professionally.
- With Nam Viet’s quotation, customers can easily choose service packages that suit their needs. We are committed to bringing our customers the highest satisfaction with professional service quality.
