6.CHEMICAL RISK FACTORS

CHEMICAL RISK FACTORS

CHAPTER I: General information about chemicals

2

Chemicals • Chemicals are a part of everyone's life.

• There are five to seven million different chemicals known in the world.

• At least four hundred million tonnes of chemicals are produced worldwide each year (including agricultural chemicals, food additives, fuels for power production, chemical consumer products, etc.)

3

Types of chemicals found in the workplace The main physical forms of chemicals are solids, dusts, liquids, vapours and gases.

4

Solids Solids are the least likely of the chemical forms to cause chemical poisoning.

5

Dusts Dusts are tiny particles of solids.

Liquids Many hazardous substances, such as acids and solvents, are liquids when they are at normal temperature.

7

Vapours A vapour is the gas phase of a material which is normally liquid under standard conditions.

8

Gases Some chemical substances are in the form of a gas when they are at a normal temperature. However, some chemicals in liquid or solid form become gases when they are heated.

9

Gases

Classification According to Biological Effects

Asphyxiant gases

Simple asphyxiants (CO2,methane,ethane, buthane,nitrogen gases)

Irritant gases Chlorine, phosgene, nitrogen compounds

Systematic gases alcohols and carbon tetrachloride

Narcotic gases Toluene, benzene

Chemical asphyxiants (CO, hydrogen sulphide )

10

CHAPTER II:

Routes of entry into the body/health effects

11

ROUTES of ENTRY INTO THE BODY Inhalation Ingestion Contact with skin or eyes (absorption)

12

ROUTES of ENTRY INTO THE BODY-1 Inhalation

More hazardous agents get into your body by inhalation (by being breathed in) than by any other route.

13

How do you know whether you are being exposed to respiratory hazards at work?

Warning signals are: • smell • sneezing • coughing • a runny nose

14

ROUTES of ENTRY INTO THE BODY-2 Ingestion

Hazardous agents can also get into the body by ingestion.

15

ROUTES of ENTRY INTO THE BODY-3 Absorption

Some chemicals (such as strong acids and alkalis) can damage your skin.

This condition is called dermatitis.

16

Contact dermatitis Another common occupational skin disease is contact dermatitis — a type of allergic reaction.

17

Some of the chemicals that cause contact dermatitis are: • formaldehyde; • nickel compounds; • epoxy resins and catalysts used in the plastics industry; • germicidal agents used in soap and other cleaners • chromates.

18

CHAPTER III: Common chemical groups that cause health risks

19

Gases Some toxic gases are corrosive and irritating to the respiratory system.

Some gases can pass through the skin Some gases may enter the blood circulation.

Sulphur oxides, Nitrogen oxides, Chlorine, Ammonia Hydrogen cyanide Carbon monoxide 20

Solvents • Most industrial solvents are liquid organic chemicals • Many of them evaporate rapidly at ambient temperatures • They are often flammable and may ignite by heat from smoking, welding or static electricity.

• Example of very dangerous solvents:Benzene, carbon tetra cloride, carbon disulphide.

21

Metals Metals can enter the body in the form of dust and fumes (in grinding or welding) or even through the skin.

22

Acids and bases Strong acids and bases are mostly used as water solutions. They are corrosive to human tissue.

23

Pesticides Pesticides are used in industry, for example, to impregnate wood, and in agriculture to control insects, weed, fungi, and rats.

24

Different organs and tissues that can be affected by certain toxic industrial chemicals.

25

CHAPTER IV: Hazard control and prevention

26

• The most effective chemical hazard control is prevention. Establishing an effective chemical control program in your facility can reduce or eliminate chemical hazards in food.

27

Successful chemical control program should include: • Train employees to follow safe handling and application procedures for sanitation, maintenance or pesticides chemicals. • Store chemicals in designated areas away from food, ingredients, packaging and food contact surfaces.

28

• Make it standard practice for staff, after maintenance, to properly clean and remove all chemical residues from food contact surfaces. • Ensure chemical containers and measuring tools are clearly labeled or colour coded, and that they are used only for chemicals.

29

• Use designated tools for handling allergens and scheduling products using allergens last in the production cycle. • Store allergens to prevent cross-contamination with other ingredients (ex: tightly close containers, use separate storage room, or ensure adequate physical separation).

30

CHAPTER V:

Factors that determine the type of toxic effect a chemical can have on you.

31

factors that determine the type of toxic effect a chemical can have on you

the particular tissues and organs in which the chemical collects or localizes

the chemical composition of the hazardous

the route of entry by which the chemical gets into the body

factors that determine the type of toxic effect a chemical can have on you

the worker's individual response to the chemical, which can vary a great deal from person to person

the frequency, concentration, and length of exposure

substance

the physical form of the chemical (dust, vapour, liquid, etc.)

32

Chemical

Physical form

Method of entry

Organ(s) that can be affected

Class of effect

Examples of

Cadmium metal and some of its compounds

Dusts, vapours

Inhalation

Lungs, throat, kidneys

Dusts

Ingestion

Poisonous, causing damage to lungs, kidneys on chronic

Metal industries, welding processes, heavy chemicals

exposure.

Benzene

Vapour

Inhalation

Brain, bone, marrow, skin

Poisonous.

Possibly carcinogenic

Absorption through skin

Many industrial activities, especially chemical industry, adhesives, paints,etc.

Nickel and some of its compounds

Dusts Vapour

Absorption through skin Inhalation

Skin

Dermatitic

Lungs, nasal passages

Irritant in lungs (nickel carbonyl).

Carcinogenic on chronic exposure

Metallurgical industries, heavy chemicals, laboratory workers

33

Summary •

Chemicals are a part of everyone's life.

•

The main physical forms of chemicals are solids, dusts, liquids, vapours and gases.

•

Routes of entry into the body:inhalation, ingestion, absorption

•

There are a lot of factors that determine the type of toxic effect a chemical can have on you

•

Be aware different chemical materials in your workplace and you can exposure to them.

34