Working environment factors
How does Acrylamide affect workers’ health?
Feb
Acrylamide (C3H5NO) is a common chemical in manufacturing plants, but few know that it can cause serious harm to the health of workers. This article will explore the health effects of acrylamide and the necessary protective measures in the work environment.
1. What is Acrylamide?
Acrylamide (C3H5NO) is an organic compound with the chemical formula C3H5NO, known for its role as an important chemical in many industries. Its molecular structure consists of an acryl group (C3H5) linked to an amide group (NO). Acrylamide is a colorless liquid, readily soluble in water, and has rather special chemical properties, being highly reactive in various chemical processes.
In nature, acrylamide is not readily present, but it can be formed during high-temperature food processing, such as when frying, baking, or roasting. In addition, acrylamide is also used in industries such as paper manufacturing, wastewater treatment, plastics production, and some other chemical products. In particular, it plays an important role in polymerization reactions, helping to create polyacrylamide polymers, which are widely used in water treatment and waste separation.
Although acrylamide has many applications in industry, it is also a potential toxic substance that can cause many health problems for people with long-term exposure. Therefore, a clear understanding of the nature and properties of acrylamide is extremely important to be aware of the potential risks and to apply safety measures when working with this substance.
| No. | Chemical Name in Vietnamese | Chemical Name in English | HS Code | CAS Number | Chemical Formula |
| 1. | Acrylamit | Acrylamide | 29241900 | 79-06-1 | C3H5NO |
See more: chemical safety training service according to Decree 113/2017/ND-CP
REGISTER FOR CHEMICAL SAFETY TRAINING ACCORDING TO DECREE 113
2. Where does Acrylamide originate from in the production process?
Acrylamide is mainly generated during production when there is an effect of high temperature in chemical reactions. In particular, in the food processing industry, acrylamide is formed when carbohydrate-containing ingredients (like potatoes, grains) are baked, fried, or roasted at high temperatures. This process occurs when natural amino acids, especially asparagine, react with reducing sugars (sugars with an aldehyde or ketone group) under appropriate temperature and pH conditions, creating acrylamide.
Besides the food industry, acrylamide also appears in industrial production processes such as paper processing, plastics manufacturing, or in water treatment industries. In these processes, acrylamide can be formed as an additive or as a result of a chemical reaction between different substances in the production environment. Specifically, in the production of polyacrylamide, this substance is used to create a polymer that helps absorb water and treat waste, but it can also lead to the formation of acrylamide in the final product.
Therefore, the sources of acrylamide in industries are very diverse, from food to chemical and processing industries.
3. Industries that use Acrylamide in production
Acrylamide is used in many different industries, playing an important role in production and processing. One of the industries that uses acrylamide the most is the plastics industry, especially in the production of polyacrylamide, a polymer with special properties used in applications such as water treatment, waste separation, or in plastic products.
The paper processing industry is also one of the places where acrylamide is used in the production process. Acrylamide is used in treating paper pulp, helping to improve the strength and water resistance of the paper. In addition, acrylamide is also used in the textile industry to create high-durability fabric products, especially in dyeing and fabric softening processes.
In the field of water treatment, acrylamide is a key component in the production of polyacrylamide, a substance used as a flocculant to help remove impurities and waste from water. This substance is widely used in cleaning industrial wastewater, treating water supplies for cities, or even in the water treatment systems of food production plants.
In addition, acrylamide also appears in the electronics, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries, mainly due to its special chemical properties, which help enhance the characteristics of products or assist in production processes.
4. How does Acrylamide affect workers?
When workers are exposed to acrylamide in the workplace, they can face many serious health problems. Acrylamide is a toxic substance that can enter the body through the respiratory tract, ingestion, or skin. Inhaling acrylamide vapor in the air can directly affect the nervous system, leading to symptoms such as headache, dizziness, fatigue, or neurological disorders.
Long-term use or exposure to acrylamide at high concentrations can also cause severe damage to the peripheral nervous system, causing workers to have difficulty with movement, numbness, or muscle weakness. In addition, prolonged exposure can also lead to other medical conditions such as dermatitis and damage to internal organs, especially the kidneys.
Research also indicates that acrylamide can cause cancer in laboratory animals, and although there is no official conclusion about its effects on humans, long-term exposure to this substance may still pose a risk of developing cancers, especially breast cancer, liver cancer, and diseases related to the nervous system.
5. Permissible safe concentration of Acrylamide for human exposure
Health and occupational safety agencies have issued standards for the permissible safe concentration for exposure to acrylamide. According to organizations such as OSHA (U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and NIOSH (U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), the safe concentration level in the air for acrylamide is usually limited to 0.1 mg/m³ for 8 continuous hours of work. This is the permissible concentration to minimize risks to the health of workers with long-term exposure to this substance.
In addition, these standards are also applied depending on the type of work and the actual level of exposure. For high-risk jobs, for example, in the production of polyacrylamide or food processing at high temperatures, the concentration of acrylamide may need to be more strictly controlled, and personal protective measures must be rigorously implemented.
On a basic level, when working in an industrial environment, it is important to comply with safety standards and limit exposure to Acrylamide. 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 minimize the effects of Acrylamide on worker health
To minimize the effects of acrylamide on worker health, protective measures must be comprehensively applied in the work environment. One of the most important measures is to control the concentration of acrylamide in the air. Effective ventilation and dust extraction systems should be installed in high-risk areas, such as polyacrylamide production plants or food processing facilities. Maintaining the concentration of acrylamide within safe limits according to international standards will help minimize worker exposure to this substance.
In addition, workers also need to be fully equipped with personal protective equipment such as specialized respirators, gloves, and protective clothing to prevent direct contact with acrylamide. In necessary cases, the use of shielding systems, such as closed work booths or partitions, can also help limit the spread of acrylamide into the air.
Training and raising awareness for workers about the risks associated with acrylamide and how to use protective measures is an important part of the prevention strategy. Workers need to be trained on how to recognize the signs of excessive exposure to this substance, as well as first aid measures when experiencing symptoms related to acrylamide poisoning.
Finally, regular periodic health check-ups for workers are necessary to detect early problems related to acrylamide exposure, thereby allowing for timely intervention measures. Production facilities also need to conduct environmental workplace tests, measuring the level of acrylamide regularly to ensure compliance with occupational safety regulations.
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 workplace environmental monitoring in factories and enterprises, collecting and analyzing factors harmful to workers, and from there, adjusting to reduce the level of harm to prevent occupational diseases for them.
7. National Workplace Environmental Monitoring Center
Nam Viet’s Workplace Environmental 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 measuring equipment, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
REGISTER FOR WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SERVICE
In addition to providing monitoring services, the center also supports customers in planning, handling, and tracking workplace environmental issues. With the motto “the customer is the center,” the center is concerned with customer satisfaction, meeting 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 workplace environmental 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 customers with the best and most suitable things possible.
- Along with a team of experienced Masters and Engineers with a desire to protect the environment and benefit businesses.
- 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 Environmental Monitoring
To help businesses carry out workplace environmental monitoring in a professional and effective manner, Nam Viet provides our customers with a quality and reasonably priced quotation for workplace environmental monitoring services.
- 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. You 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 in the quickest and most professional manner.
- With Nam Viet’s quotation, you can easily choose the service packages that suit your needs. We are committed to bringing you the highest satisfaction with our professional service quality.
