Working environment factors
How Does Selenious Acid Affect Workers’ Health?
Nov
This article will discuss the impact of selenious acid on the health of workers. In the work environment, selenious acid can exist and interact with workers, causing potential effects on their health. We will explore the risks, symptoms, and preventive measures to protect the health of those working in environments containing selenious acid.
1. What is Selenious acid?
Selenious acid (H2SeO3) is a chemical compound containing selenium and oxygen. It has the chemical formula H2SeO3, in which selenium has an oxidation state of +4. Selenious acid is one of the forms of selenium, a chemical element belonging to the chalcogen group, along with sulfur, tellurium, polonium, and oxygen.
Selenious acid typically appears as a solution in water, and it can affect health if contacted without proper safety measures. Long-term exposure or exposure in the workplace can be harmful to workers’ health.
| No. | Chemical Name (Vietnamese) | Chemical Name (English) | HS Code | CAS Number | Chemical Formula |
| 1. | Axit selenơ | Selenious acid | 28111990 | 7783-00-8 | H2SeO3 |
See more: chemical safety training service according to Decree 113/2017/ND-CP
2. Where does Selenious acid originate from in the production process?
Selenious acid (H2SeO3) can appear during the production and processing of some industrial products. Here are some common sources of selenious acid:
- Mineral processing industry: Selenious acid can be generated during the mining and processing of minerals, especially when mining selenium-containing minerals or when processing selenium ores.
- Additive production: Selenious acid may be used in the production of some poultry feed additives and fats. During this process, if not carefully managed, selenious acid can be generated and create a risk of contamination.
- Electronics manufacturing: In the electronics industry, selenious acid can appear as a byproduct during the production of electronic components, especially in the manufacturing of solar crystals.
- Chemical production process: Selenious acid can be produced primarily through chemical reactions involving selenium or selenium compounds, and it can be part of specialized chemical production processes.
3. Industries that use Selenious acid in production
Selenious acid (H2SeO3) may be used in several different industries, especially in manufacturing and specialized industries. Here are some industries that may use selenious acid:
- Electronics industry: Selenious acid may be used in the production of electronic components, especially in the manufacturing of solar crystals (selenium has applications in some types of solar cells).
- Food processing industry: Selenious acid may be used as a selenium supplement in the production of food or animal feed to provide selenium to animals and humans.
- Chemical industry: Selenious acid may be used in the production of other chemical compounds or as a key reactant in specific chemical reactions.
- Electroplating industry: Selenium and its compounds, including selenious acid, may be used in the electroplating process to create corrosion-resistant coatings and provide surface protection properties.
- Petroleum industry: Selenious acid may be used in some applications in the processing and refining of petroleum.
4. How does Selenious acid affect workers?
Selenious acid (H2SeO3) can have significant effects on the health of workers when they are exposed to it in the workplace. Here are some potential effects:
- Effects on the respiratory system: Exposure to selenious acid via inhalation can cause irritation to the respiratory tract, leading to respiratory inflammation, discomfort, and potentially respiratory problems.
- Impact on the skin: Direct skin contact with selenious acid can cause skin irritation, redness, itching, and in severe cases, may lead to the appearance of sores or rashes.
- Eye problems: Selenious acid is a corrosive substance and can cause serious damage if it comes into direct contact with the eyes, leading to irritation, stinging pain, and potentially long-term damage if not treated promptly.
- Effects on the nervous system and kidneys: Selenium, in forms like selenious acid, can impact the nervous system and kidneys, potentially causing serious health problems such as kidney pain, or even severe kidney damage.
- Risk of toxicity and cancer: Selenium can accumulate in the body in large doses, and the risk of toxicity and cancer can increase with long-term exposure to selenious acid.
To minimize risks, safety management and personal protective measures need to be fully implemented in work environments involving selenious acid. These measures include the use of personal protective equipment, effective ventilation systems, and adherence to specific safety guidelines for working with this substance.
5. Permissible safe concentration of Selenious acid for human exposure
The permissible safe concentration of selenious acid for human exposure depends on many factors, including the type of exposure (inhalation, skin, eyes), duration of exposure, and the individual’s constitution. Safety regulations and concentration limits proposed by governmental and international organizations may vary.
At high concentrations, selenium and its compounds can be harmful to human health. Determining safe concentrations is often done through independent research or based on guidelines from organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) or the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
At a basic level, when working in an industrial environment, it is important to comply with safety standards and limit exposure to Selenious acid. 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 Selenious acid on workers
To minimize the health effects of selenious acid (H2SeO3) on workers, safety and risk management measures need to be fully and effectively implemented. Here are some measures that can be applied:
- Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Workers need to be equipped with personal protective equipment such as safety glasses, masks, gloves, and protective clothing to reduce direct contact and skin exposure to selenious acid.
- Ventilation and Exhaust Systems: Using effective ventilation and exhaust systems in work areas can reduce the concentration of selenious acid in the air, reducing respiratory exposure.
- Safe Work Procedures: Develop and adhere to specific safe work procedures for handling and using selenious acid, including procedures for working in areas where selenious acid may be present and waste disposal procedures.
- Occupational Safety Training: Ensure that all employees who may be exposed to selenious acid are trained on the risks and safety measures. Provide detailed information about the properties and dangers of selenious acid.
- Work Environment Control: Keep the work environment clean and controlled, ensuring that selenious acid concentrations do not exceed recommended safety levels.
- Periodic Health Check-ups: Organize periodic health check-up programs for workers exposed to selenious acid, to monitor and detect any health problems early.
- Safe Waste Disposal: Procedures for processing and disposing of waste containing selenious acid must comply with environmental and safety regulations.
- Periodically organize workplace environment monitoring in factories and enterprises, collect and analyze factors harmful to workers, thereby adjusting to reduce hazard levels to prevent occupational diseases for them.
7. National Workplace Environment Monitoring Center
Nam Viet’s Workplace Environment Monitoring Center is a professional unit specializing in monitoring and measuring the quality of the working environment across all provinces in Vietnam. With an experienced team of monitoring specialists, the center uses modern measuring equipment, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
REGISTER FOR WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT MONITORING SERVICE
In addition to providing monitoring services, the center also assists clients in planning, handling, and tracking workplace 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 techniques, technology, and human resources, Nam Viet’s monitoring center has become one of the reputable units in the field of workplace 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 things possible.
- Along with a team of experienced Masters and Engineers with expertise, we desire to protect the environment and benefit businesses.
- With the Nam Viet Environment 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. Workplace Environment Monitoring Quotation
To help businesses conduct workplace environment monitoring professionally and effectively, Nam Viet provides customers with a quality and reasonably priced quotation table for workplace environment monitoring services.
- Our monitoring quotation table provides detailed price information for 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 commit to always offering the most competitive and reasonable prices on the market, and we are always ready to advise and answer any questions about monitoring services quickly and professionally.
- With Nam Viet’s monitoring quotation table, customers can easily choose service packages that suit their needs. We commit to bringing our customers the highest satisfaction with professional service quality.
