Working environment factors
How does Peracetic Acid (>60%) affect workers’ health?
Jan
Peracetic acid (> 60%) is a powerful chemical commonly used in the manufacturing industry. However, direct contact with this chemical can cause dangerous effects on the health of workers. This article will explore the potential risks and necessary protective measures.
1. What is Peracetic acid (> 60%)?
Peracetic acid (> 60%), with the chemical formula C₂H₄O₃, is a strongly oxidizing organic compound, commonly used in many industries such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, and disinfection processes. The molecular structure of peracetic acid includes two main functional groups: a peroxo group (-O-O-) and an acid group (-COOH). This makes peracetic acid a powerful oxidizing agent, capable of effectively killing bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
With the chemical formula C₂H₄O₃, peracetic acid exists mainly as a solution, with concentrations ranging from 5% to over 60%. The presence of the peroxo group in the molecule allows it to decompose easily and release oxygen, providing its strong disinfecting properties, but this is also why it can be dangerous if not used correctly. This is why a clear understanding of the nature of peracetic acid and its properties is very important when applying it in industrial processes, especially in work environments with a high risk of exposure.
| No. | Chemical Name in Vietnamese | Chemical Name in English | HS Code | CAS Number | Chemical Formula |
| 1. | Axit peraxetic (> 60%) | Peracetic acid (> 60%) | 29159090 | 79-21-0 | C2H4O3 |
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2. Where does Peracetic acid (> 60%) originate from in the production process?
During production, peracetic acid (> 60%) is mainly created through the reaction between acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst. This reaction usually takes place under high temperature and pressure conditions to produce peracetic acid at a high concentration, which then serves industrial applications such as disinfection, cleaning, or food preservation.
This process can be carried out in chemical manufacturing plants, where hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid are mixed and reacted in specialized equipment. The product obtained after the reaction will need to be purified to achieve the desired concentration of peracetic acid, with concentrations above 60% often used for applications requiring strong disinfecting properties.
3. Industries that use Peracetic acid (> 60%) in production
Peracetic acid (> 60%) is widely used in many industries, especially in fields requiring strong disinfection and treatment of bacteria and viruses. In the food industry, it is used to kill microorganisms, preserve food, and disinfect processing equipment. This product helps to ensure food safety in food processing plants, where the production environment is at high risk of bacterial contamination.
In addition, in the pharmaceutical industry, peracetic acid (> 60%) is used to disinfect medical instruments, equipment, and drug production environments. Its disinfecting properties help protect public health and ensure that medical products are of high quality. The paper and pulp industry also uses peracetic acid to treat bacteria and mold during the production process, while also improving product quality.
In the water industry, especially in wastewater treatment, peracetic acid plays an important role in removing organic impurities and killing bacteria, helping to protect water sources and improve environmental quality.
4. How does Peracetic acid (> 60%) affect workers?
Exposure to peracetic acid (> 60%) can have serious effects on the health of workers, especially when they work in an environment with high concentrations of the chemical. Due to its strong oxidizing properties, if its vapor is inhaled or it comes into direct contact with the skin and eyes, this chemical can cause irritation, burns, or inflammation. Workers may experience symptoms such as headache, difficulty breathing, coughing, and dizziness when inhaling the vapor of peracetic acid in the air.
Long-term exposure or lack of proper protection can lead to serious respiratory problems, such as chronic bronchitis or lung damage. In addition, if exposed directly to peracetic acid, especially through the skin, workers may experience chemical burns or skin allergies. In some severe cases, prolonged exposure can affect the long-term health of workers.
5. Permissible safe concentration of Peracetic acid (> 60%) for human exposure
The permissible safe concentration of peracetic acid (> 60%) for human exposure is a very important issue in protecting the health of workers. International health and safety organizations such as OSHA (U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration) have issued limits for the concentration of peracetic acid in the air that humans can be exposed to without facing a serious health risk.
According to these standards, the concentration of peracetic acid in the air should not exceed 0.4 ppm (parts per million) over a workday. However, in cases of direct contact with a solution with a concentration higher than 60%, workers need to be equipped with protective measures such as personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize the risk. This concentration has been determined to be the maximum permissible level in the work environment that does not cause serious harm to human health.
On a basic level, if working in an industrial environment, adhering to safety standards and limiting exposure to Peracetic acid (> 60%) is important. Organizations like 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 health effects of Peracetic acid (> 60%) on workers
To minimize the health effects of peracetic acid (> 60%) on workers, safety measures in the work environment are very important. One of the main measures is the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as chemical-resistant masks, safety glasses, gloves, and protective clothing. This equipment helps prevent direct contact of peracetic acid with the skin, eyes, and respiratory system of workers.
In addition, improving the ventilation system in work areas where peracetic acid is used is very important. A good ventilation system will help reduce the concentration of the chemical in the air, thereby minimizing the risk of inhaling chemical vapors. Air filtration devices and fume hoods should also be equipped to remove hazardous gases.
Furthermore, training workers on the risks of working with peracetic acid and preventive measures is necessary. Workers need to be instructed on how to handle incidents, how to use protective equipment, as well as how to recognize the signs of exposure to the chemical. Clear emergency procedures should be established to handle incidents or risks when they occur, such as first aid measures upon direct contact with peracetic acid.
Finally, regular monitoring and measurement of peracetic acid concentrations in the air is also an important measure to protect the health of workers. When the concentration exceeds the permissible limit, timely intervention measures must be taken to minimize the risk.
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, 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 measuring 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 focuses on 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.
- 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. You will also get the best cost incentives.
8. Quotation for Occupational Environment Monitoring
To help businesses carry out occupational environment monitoring professionally and effectively, Nam Viet offers our customers a quality and reasonably priced quotation table for occupational environment monitoring services.
- Our quotation table provides detailed information about 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 advice and answer any questions about our 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 our customers the highest satisfaction with professional service quality.
