Working environment factors
How does Selenious Acid affect workers’ health?
Feb
Selenious acid (H2SeO3) is a chemical that has hazardous effects on the health of workers in manufacturing plants. This article will clarify its effects, from causing damage to the respiratory system and skin to serious long-term problems, while also proposing effective protective measures.
1. What is Selenious acid?
Selenious acid, with the chemical formula H₂SeO₃, is an important inorganic acid of the element selenium. This compound exists as a white solid crystal, is highly hygroscopic, and is readily soluble in water. When dissolved in water, selenious acid partially dissociates into H⁺ ions and HSeO₃⁻ ions, exhibiting weak acidic properties with a pKₐ₁ of about 2.46 and a pKₐ₂ of about 7.3.
Selenious acid can be synthesized by dissolving selenium dioxide (SeO₂) in water. This process creates selenious acid in the form of white, highly hygroscopic solid crystals that are easily soluble in water.
With its special chemical properties, selenious acid is used in many fields. In industry, it is used to change the color of metals, especially in the cold “bluing” process of steel, which helps create a protective coating and enhances the aesthetic appeal of the product.
However, selenious acid is also highly toxic. Direct contact with selenious acid can cause skin and eye irritation, and if its vapor is inhaled, it can cause severe damage to the respiratory system. Therefore, the use and handling of selenious acid require strict adherence to safety measures to protect human health.
| No. | Chemical Name in Vietnamese | Chemical Name in English | HS Code | CAS Number | Chemical Formula |
| 1. | Axit selenious | Selenious acid | 28111990 | 7783-00-8 | H2SeO3 |
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 Selenious acid originate from in the production process?
In industrial production processes, this compound primarily arises from processes that use or handle selenium-containing raw materials, such as selenium dioxide (SeO₂). When chemical reactions take place in metal or glass manufacturing plants, or during chemical processing, selenium dioxide can react with water to form selenious acid.
Besides that, selenious acid can also appear in fertilizer production processes or in the petrochemical industries, where selenium is often used as a catalyst. These reactions produce exhaust gases or solutions containing selenious compounds, which can cause environmental pollution if not properly controlled.
In addition, selenious acid can also be created from the treatment of industrial waste containing selenium. When this waste comes into contact with water or a humid environment, a chemical reaction can occur, releasing selenious acid into the air or the environment.
3. Industries that use Selenious acid in production
In industrial production, this compound is used mainly in the metal processing, glass, and fertilizer manufacturing industries. In the metal industry, selenious acid plays a role in creating special alloys or is used as a catalyst in metal treatment processes. It is used to color or change the properties of metals in some special applications.
The glass industry is also one of the fields that use selenious acid in production. This compound is used in the manufacturing process of special glass, helping to adjust the color and transparency of the product. In addition, selenious acid is also used in the production of UV-resistant glass, where selenium is used to enhance light-filtering capabilities.
In the fertilizer industry, selenious acid is also used to produce selenium-containing fertilizers. Selenium is a micronutrient necessary for plant growth, and selenium compounds, including selenious acid, are often added to fertilizers to improve crop yield and quality.
Besides that, in some fields such as chemicals and pharmaceuticals, selenious acid is also used as a raw material to synthesize organic compounds containing selenium, which are used in scientific research or in the production of drugs, although these are less common applications.
4. How does Selenious acid affect workers?
When exposed to this compound, workers in industries using selenium can experience serious health effects. Selenious acid vapor can easily enter the body through the respiratory tract, skin, or eyes, causing serious health problems.
One of the most common effects is respiratory tract irritation. Workers may experience coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, or even pneumonia if they inhale selenious acid vapor in the workplace. Prolonged exposure can lead to chronic lung diseases, reducing respiratory capacity and affecting quality of life.
In addition, selenious acid can also cause severe irritation to the skin and eyes. Upon direct contact, the skin can be burned, inflamed, or become red and sore. The eyes can also be damaged, causing eye pain, blurred vision, and in severe cases, can lead to loss of vision. This damage can be serious if not treated with immediate first aid.
Particularly, with long-term exposure to this compound, selenium can accumulate in the body and cause poisoning. This can affect important organs such as the liver, kidneys, and nervous system. Symptoms of selenium poisoning may include nausea, fatigue, headache, digestive disorders, and even affect the cardiovascular system.
5. Permissible safe concentration of Selenious acid for human exposure
In the work environment, determining the permissible safe concentration for exposure to this compound is very important to protect the health of workers. However, specific information about the safe concentration limit of selenious acid in the workplace air is not directly mentioned in available documents. This may be due to a lack of research data or the complexity in determining the toxicity level of this compound for humans.
Despite this, international health and occupational safety organizations often recommend applying strict preventive measures when working with selenium-containing compounds, including the use of personal protective equipment, improving ventilation in the work area, and monitoring the concentration of the substance in the air. Adherence to current occupational safety guidelines and regulations is necessary to ensure the health of workers.
On a basic level, when working in an industrial environment, it is important to comply with safety standards and limit exposure to Selenious acid. 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 Selenious acid on worker health
To minimize the effects of this compound on worker health, protective measures must be applied strictly and comprehensively in the work environment. One of the most important measures is to ensure adequate ventilation in work areas where selenious acid is used. The ventilation system must be designed to ensure the air in the room is always clean, minimizing the accumulation of selenium vapor and dust, which helps to reduce the risk of inhaling this compound.
In addition to improving ventilation, the use of personal protective equipment is also very important. Workers must wear specialized protective masks, especially those capable of filtering dust and toxic vapors. Protective gloves, safety glasses, and protective clothing must also be used to avoid direct contact with selenious acid, while also protecting the skin and eyes from irritation or burns.
Continuous monitoring of the selenious acid concentration in the air is an indispensable factor for ensuring safety. Factories and production facilities must check the concentration of this compound in the work environment using specialized measuring devices. If the concentration exceeds the permissible limit, mitigation measures such as shutting down machinery, increasing ventilation, or using additional protective equipment must be taken.
Furthermore, workers need to be fully trained on the health risks associated with this compound and preventive measures. Occupational safety training courses help workers to be clearly aware of the dangers and how to respond when faced with a dangerous situation. Along with that, regular healthcare and medical check-ups also need to be implemented to detect early signs of selenium poisoning and to take timely action.
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.
