ABSTRACT
A chemical company which produces chlorine as a by-product was undertaking a new project for renewal of the plant. On application of paints, tile binders and coatings, the workers complained of unusual increased eye irritation and continuous lacrimation that hindered the progress of the work. Both the company and the project contractors denied their responsibility for the problem. To define the unknown irritant, gas samples of all raw materials used were collected and scanned by infra-red gas analyzer. Further on the spot direct sampling on point of application, as well as atmospheric air samples collected on active carbon were taken and analyzed by the same technique. In the mean time, chlorine gas samples were collected and analyzed at the same locations. Chlorine gas was found to be below the TLV, which could not be responsible for the irritating effect. Infra-red analysis revealed that styrene, methyl styrene, chloroform and methyl ethyl ketone are the most abundant vapours which are still below their TLVs. It has been concluded that lacrimation occurs by the interaction between styrene and low chlorine concentration in the atmosphere that is catalyzed by ultra-violet radiation to form a strong lacrimator
Subject(s)
Gases/toxicity , Chemical Industry , Chlorine/toxicity , Styrenes/adverse effects , Occupational ExposureABSTRACT
The workers on chemical plant are exposed to occupational hazards. Leakage of gases like chlorine produced as a byproduct in a soda ash plant, may cause airway damage. There may not be any clinical abnormality in respiratory system in early stages of exposure. Provocation with inhaled histamine in such workers may show an exaggerated response. This study was carried out to observe airway sensitivity pattern to inhaled histamine in workers exposed to chlorine leakage. STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thirty workers on a chemical plant at 33 km on Sheikhupura Road, Faisalabad were selected as experimental and 30 asymptomatic adult from urban area of Lahore served as a control group. Forced vital capacity [FVC], Forced expiratory volume in first second [FEV1], forced expiratory flow at 25% of flow volume loop [FEF25], Mean Mid expiratory flow rate [FEF 25-75] and peak expiratory flow rate [PEFR] were measured before and after inhalation of maximum 8.00 [micro] moles of histamine diphosphate. PERIOD OF STUDY: July 1995-September 1995. Seven out of thirty [23.33%] mill workers had bronchial hyperresponsiveness [BHR] while in control group only one person exhibited BHR [3.38%]. There was a significantly more decrease [P<0.01] in FEV1, FVC, FEF25-75, FEF25 in chemical mill workers in comparison to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our data shows that non-specific bronchial hyperresponsiveness can be present in asymptomatic subjects exposed to sensitizing agents like chlorine. Routine screening for BHR in such subjects is recommended to avoid development of chronic airway diseases and a longitudinal study should be carried out in order to evaluate this
Subject(s)
Humans , Histamine , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects , Air Pollutants, Occupational/adverse effects , Chlorine/toxicity , Chemical IndustryABSTRACT
Contiene: generalidades sobre desinfección de aguas; microorganismos que se eliminan con la desinfección; teoría de la desinfección química y su cinética; formas de desinfección; formas de determinar la eficiencia de la desinfección y normas bacteriológicas del agua potable; desinfección con cloro; resultados de la desinfección con cloro; métodos de aplicación del cloro en plantas de tratamiento de agua y determinaciones previas; técnicas de evaluación y control de cloro residual; cloradores e hipocloradores; otros usos del cloro en la ingeniería sanitaria; abastecimiento de agua y su desinfección en casos de emergencia; precauciones en el uso del cloro y sus derivados; efectos potencialmente tóxicos de la cloración; control de trihalometanos; métodos analíticos para la determinación de trihalometanos en aguas de consumo humano; programa de vigilancia de la calidad del agua potable; glosario de términos
Subject(s)
Water Quality , Disinfection/methods , Drinking Water/analysis , Chlorine/history , Chlorine/standards , Chlorine/toxicitySubject(s)
Humans , Calcium/toxicity , Chlorine/toxicity , Occupational Diseases , Environmental Exposure , IndustryABSTRACT
El Centro de Información, Vigilancia y Asesoramiento Toxicològico (CIVATOX) del Ministerio de Salud, ha preparado esta unidad interactiva sobre Sustancias Peligrosas en el marco del proyecto Iniciativas Ambientales Infantiles Saludables en Nicaragua. Esta dirigido a los maestros de educaciòn primaria quienes tendran a sus disposiciòn el material para complementar las asignaturas con contenidos relacionados a la salud, el ambiente y la seguridad humana. El objetivo de la presente unidad es que los niños apredan sobre las sustancias toxicas que existen en Nicaragua y los cuidados que deben tener para prevenir intoxicaciones y daños a su salud y de sus familias. Este documento se presenta en dos partes. La primera contiene la parte conceptual sobre sustancias toxicas y la segunda parte incluye 6 juegos educativos con distintos niveles de complejidad. Tambien se incluyen estadisticas de los casos de intoxicaciones que se han presentados en niños por diferentes sustabcias entre ellas: kerosene y cloro, por medicamentos como acetominofen, diazepan y carbamazepina, incluyendo plaguicidas muy peligrosos de uso agricola como fosfina, metamidofos y paraquat, asimismo de animales venenosos como alacranes y serpientes venenosas