Working environment factors
How does Parathion-methyl affect workers’ health?
Jan
Parathion-methyl (C10H14NO5PS), a common pesticide in production, can cause many serious health effects for workers in factories. Let’s explore the impact of this chemical on health and the measures to protect workers from potential risks.
1. What is Parathion-methyl?
Parathion-methyl, with the chemical formula C10H14NO5PS, is an organophosphate insecticide. This chemical is widely used in agriculture to control pests and harmful insects. Parathion-methyl is highly toxic, especially to the nervous system of animals, including humans.
The chemical structure of Parathion-methyl includes an organophosphate group attached to a methyl molecule, as well as other functional groups such as nitro and ester. This enables it to kill pests and insects by inhibiting the cholinesterase enzyme, causing a blockage of nerve signals and damaging the central nervous system.
In a production environment, Parathion-methyl is often used in processing plants, especially those related to the use of agricultural chemicals. Due to its toxicity, long-term exposure to Parathion-methyl can cause many serious health problems, especially for workers in environments without adequate protective measures.
| No. | Chemical Name in Vietnamese | Chemical Name in English | HS Code | CAS Number | Chemical Formula |
| 1. | Parathion-metyl | Parathion-methyl | 29201100 | 298-00-0 | C10H14NO5PS |
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2. Where does Parathion-methyl originate from in the production process?
During the production process, the source of Parathion-methyl primarily comes from the use and handling of this chemical in the processing of agricultural products or the production of plant protection products. When applied to control pests, the chemical can be dispersed into the air, soil, water, or onto product surfaces in the production area.
Additionally, in processing or manufacturing plants that use Parathion-methyl, the source can also come from the process of mixing, packaging, or storing products containing this chemical. In these stages, failure to follow protective procedures or a lack of safety equipment can lead to the release of Parathion-methyl into the workspace or the surrounding environment.
3. Industries that use Parathion-methyl in production
Parathion-methyl is widely used in many industries related to agricultural production and plant protection. The agricultural sector is the main consumer of this chemical, especially in protecting crops from pests and harmful insects. This chemical is applied by spraying on crops such as rice, corn, and vegetables to control pests and increase crop yields.
Besides agriculture, Parathion-methyl also appears in some food processing industries and the production of plant protection products. Agricultural processing plants, such as facilities for processing rice, corn, or various grains, may use this chemical to treat raw materials before they enter production. Even in the pesticide industry, Parathion-methyl is used to produce formulations that prevent pests for crops during cultivation.
4. How does Parathion-methyl affect workers?
Exposure to Parathion-methyl can cause many serious effects on the health of workers, especially when they work in production or processing environments using this chemical. The chemical can enter the body through the respiratory tract, skin, or digestion if proper protective measures are not taken. Once in the body, Parathion-methyl directly affects the nervous system, inhibiting the activity of the cholinesterase enzyme, leading to an accumulation of acetylcholine in nerve synapses.
These effects can cause symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, difficulty breathing, and seizures. In severe cases, Parathion-methyl poisoning can cause a coma, long-term damage to the nervous system, or even death if not treated promptly. In particular, workers who are in direct contact with the chemical without protective gear or safety measures face a higher risk.
In addition to acute effects, long-term exposure to Parathion-methyl can also cause chronic health problems, including neurological disorders, reduced reproductive capacity, and effects on liver and kidney function.
5. Permissible safe concentration of Parathion-methyl for human exposure
The safe concentration of Parathion-methyl for human exposure is determined based on research and regulations from health and occupational safety agencies. Organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have established permissible exposure limits to protect the health of workers and the community.
This concentration level is typically determined in units of micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m³) for the work environment. The maximum safe exposure level in the workplace air is often around 0.1 mg/m³, depending on factors such as exposure duration and protection methods. This is to ensure that the concentration of Parathion-methyl in the air does not cause adverse health effects for workers.
In addition, regulations also recommend the use of personal protective equipment such as chemical-resistant respirators, gloves, and protective clothing when working in environments with potential exposure to Parathion-methyl. Production facilities also need to have adequate ventilation systems and other preventive measures to limit the chemical concentration in the air to below safe levels.
On a basic level, if working in an industrial environment, it is important to adhere to safety standards and limit exposure to Parathion-methyl. 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 Parathion-methyl on workers’ health
To minimize the effects of Parathion-methyl on workers’ health, protective measures must be strictly implemented in the workplace. One of the most important measures is the use of personal protective equipment, including chemical-resistant respirators, gloves, and protective clothing. This equipment helps prevent direct contact with the chemical and protects workers from the risk of inhalation or skin contact.
Besides, ensuring a proper ventilation system in production areas containing Parathion-methyl is extremely important. The ventilation system helps reduce the concentration of the chemical in the air, ensuring that workers’ exposure levels remain within safe limits. Factories also need to have environmental quality control procedures, such as periodically checking the chemical concentration in the air.
Training and educating workers on the risks of working with Parathion-methyl and how to use protective measures correctly is also a key factor. Workers need to clearly understand the effects of this chemical and how to prevent them to ensure their own safety and that of their colleagues. Furthermore, regular health check-ups for workers help in the early detection of signs of poisoning or health damage from long-term exposure to Parathion-methyl.
Finally, production facilities must strictly adhere to regulations and guidelines on occupational safety, environmental protection, and chemical use. Applying strict management measures will significantly reduce the risks to workers’ health when working with this chemical.
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.
