Working environment factors
How does Ethylene affect workers’ health?
May
Ethylene, also known as Etylen, is a colorless, odorless gas compound with the chemical formula C2H4. It is widely used in the production of plastics, chemicals, and various other industries. However, Ethylene also poses significant health risks to workers when in direct contact in the working environment. This article will delve into analyzing the effects of Ethylene on the health of workers in production plants, while also proposing measures to protect their health.
1. What is Ethylene?
Ethylene (also known as Etilen) is an organic compound with the chemical formula C2H4. It is the simplest type of alkene hydrocarbon, serving as a raw material for many important chemical reactions. Ethylene is a colorless gas, usually lighter than air, with no characteristic odor (according to some documents, it has a slightly sweet smell).
The structural characteristics of Ethylene include two carbon atoms bonded together by a double bond, with each carbon atom bonded to 2 hydrogen atoms. This double bond creates a certain flexibility in Ethylene’s molecular structure, making it readily participate in chemical reactions.
| No. | Chemical name in Vietnamese | Chemical name in English | HS Code | CAS Number | Chemical Formula |
| 1. | Etylen | Ethylene | 74-85-1 | C2H4 |
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2. Where does Ethylene originate from in the production process?
Ethylene has natural origins and can also be synthetically produced in industry.
- Natural origin: Ethylene is a plant hormone that plays an important role in many physiological processes of plants, including stimulating fruit ripening, leaf shedding, and shoot proliferation. Ethylene is produced naturally in plant tissues, especially in tissues that are damaged or during the fruit ripening stage. For example, keeping fruits and flowers together will accelerate the ripening process due to the increased amount of Ethylene in the environment.
- Synthetic production: Ethylene is produced in large quantities in the petrochemical industry. The main production process is usually heating ethane (C2H6) at high temperatures in the presence of a catalyst. Additionally, Ethylene can also be extracted from the raw gas stream of petroleum cracking plants.
3. Industries that use Ethylene in production
Ethylene is one of the most important organic compounds in the chemical industry, used as a raw material for the production of many essential products. Here are some typical industries that use Ethylene:
- Plastics industry: Ethylene is the main raw material for producing polyethylene (PE) plastics such as high-density PE (HDPE), low-density PE (LDPE), and linear low-density PE (LLDPE). These are common plastics used to produce packaging, shrink wrap, pipes, bottles, containers, household goods, and many other products.
- Textile industry: Ethylene is used to produce ethylene oxide (EO), an important intermediate compound in the production of polyester fibers. Polyester fiber is a major component of many types of apparel fabrics, sportswear, bedding, and other textile products.
- Chemical industry: Ethylene is the raw material for producing many different chemicals, such as ethanol, glycol (antifreeze), and monomers used in the production of paints, adhesives, and other chemical products.
- Rubber production industry: Ethylene is used to produce some types of synthetic rubber, often used in the production of tires, hoses, and other rubber products.
- Construction materials production industry: Ethylene is the raw material for producing polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the plastic used to produce bottles and polyester films in the construction industry.
In addition, Ethylene is also used in some other industries such as detergent production, pharmaceuticals, and the food industry (as a disinfectant in some countries).
4. How does Ethylene affect workers?
Ethylene is safe at low concentrations, however, exposure to Ethylene at high concentrations and for long periods can cause health effects for workers. The level of impact depends on many factors such as the concentration of exposure, duration of inhalation, route of exposure (inhalation, skin, eyes), and individual health factors.
The main effects of Ethylene on workers:
- Respiratory irritation: Inhaling Ethylene at high concentrations can cause irritation to the mucous membranes of the nose, throat, and lungs. Common symptoms include coughing, difficulty breathing, sore throat, and runny nose. In severe cases, it can lead to pulmonary edema (a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs causing difficulty breathing).
- Causes dizziness, nausea, and headache: Exposure to Ethylene can cause neurological symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, headache, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.
- Effects on skin and eyes: Direct contact of liquid or vapor Ethylene with the skin and eyes can cause irritation, redness, and damage.
- Cancer risk (suspected): Some studies show a link between long-term exposure to Ethylene and the risk of certain cancers. However, more research is needed to conclude definitively on this issue.
5. Permissible safe concentration of Ethylene for human exposure
There is currently no unified global standard for the permissible safe concentration of Ethylene for worker exposure. However, some reputable organizations provide recommendations for occupational exposure limits (OEL) such as:
ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists): The recommended time-weighted average (TWA) exposure limit for Ethylene is 200 ppm (parts per million by volume) for an 8-hour workday.
NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health): The recommended exposure limit is similar to ACGIH at 200 ppm for an 8-hour workday.
At a basic level, if working in an industrial environment, it is important to comply with safety standards and limit exposure to Ethylene. 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 effects of Ethylene on workers’ health
Ethylene is a necessary compound in many industries, however, exposure to it can pose risks to workers’ health. Fortunately, there are many measures that can be implemented to minimize these effects:
Engineering controls:
- Emission source control: Prioritize solutions that help minimize the amount of Ethylene released into the environment from the source. For example, using advanced production technology, maintaining machinery systems regularly to prevent Ethylene leaks.
- Local exhaust ventilation: Install local exhaust ventilation systems at locations with high Ethylene concentrations to draw polluted air out of the work area, minimizing the concentration inhaled by workers.
- Pressure control: Maintain negative pressure in areas containing Ethylene to prevent this gas from escaping, reducing the risk of exposure for workers.
Personal protective equipment:
- Respirators: Use respirators appropriate for the type and concentration of Ethylene in the work environment. Pay attention to selecting a mask with a filter suitable for Ethylene and replacing the filter periodically as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Protective clothing: Wear protective clothing that covers the entire body to prevent Ethylene from coming into direct contact with the skin.
- Eye protection goggles: Wear eye protection goggles to prevent Ethylene vapor or sparks from affecting the eyes.
Safe work practices:
- Training for workers: Implement occupational safety training programs, providing knowledge about Ethylene, its health effects, how to use protective equipment, and safe work procedures when handling Ethylene.
- Periodic health check-ups: Conduct periodic health examinations for workers exposed to Ethylene to monitor for signs of health effects and take timely intervention measures if necessary.
- Maintain personal hygiene: Wash hands regularly after contact with Ethylene, do not eat, drink, or smoke in work areas with Ethylene.
By applying a combination of engineering controls, personal protective equipment, and strict safe work practices, factories that produce and use Ethylene can significantly reduce health risks for workers, creating a safer working environment.
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 needs to be provided periodically and regularly to ensure understanding and proper compliance with safety rules.
Periodically organize workplace environment monitoring in factories and enterprises, collect and analyze harmful factors for workers, thereby adjusting to reduce the hazard level to prevent occupational diseases for them.
7. Nationwide workplace environment monitoring center
Workplace environment monitoring center of Nam Viet is a professional unit specializing in 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 ENVIRONMENT MONITORING SERVICE
In addition to providing monitoring services, the center also supports customers in planning, handling, and tracking workplace environment issues. With the motto “customer is the center”, the center cares about 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 been and is becoming one of the reputable units in the field of workplace environment monitoring in Ho Chi Minh City with the following objectives:
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8. Quotation for workplace environment monitoring
To help businesses perform 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 information on the prices of the monitoring services we offer. Including 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 are committed to bringing customers the highest satisfaction with professional service quality.
