The History Of Nitrogen Dioxide Vapors

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Possible route of entry of:

Atrazine Herbicide

Antrazine can enter the human body by three ways:

By absorption through the skin or the eyes (dermally);

Through the mouth (orally); and

By breathing into the lungs (inhalation).

Dermal exposures lead to absorption soon after atrazine herbicide contact with the skin or eyes. Powders of atrazine can produce airborne dust which may settle on the skin. Atrazine will continually be absorbed as long as it remains in contact with the skin. Atrazine can be transferred easily from one part of the body to another part of the body. For instance, residue of atrazine can be unconsciously moved from the hand to sweaty forehead or to genital area; use of contaminated hand to rub the eyes or atrazine splash to the eyes can cause atrazine to be absorbed by the mucous membranes of the eyes. Hence, sweaty skin and mucous membranes can increase the permeation of atrazine herbicide into the body.

Oral exposure can be in terms of swallowing the atrazine herbicide. Ingestion of atrazine can be by accident, through contact with contaminated hand to the mouth via hand-held food and drinking, due to carelessness or intentionally or by using the mouth as a medium to clear a spray hole containing the herbicide. Ingestion can result into rapid entry of atrazine herbicide to the bloodstream because of the high absorbing ability of the stomach and small intestines.

Respiratory exposure is on the whole hazardous as atrazine herbicide can be easily absorbed by the lungs into the bloodstream. Inhalation is the fastest route of transferring spray droplets in the form of mist of atrazine herbicide from the atmosphere to the bloodstream. Nose, throat and lungs tissues may be exposed to atrazine herbicides meanwhile mixing. Adult human lungs have a surface area of 70 m2 thus leading to high potential for absorption mist of atrazine herbicide carried by air currents. Enclosed workplaces such as storerooms can be mainly hazardous since high level of airborne of chemical pesticides, herbicides and insecticides exist which may be resulting from poor ventilation.

24D weed killer

24D can enter the human body by three ways:

Through skin and eye contact;

Through ingestion; and

Through inhalation.

Skin and eye contact can be during handling the concentrated product of 24D chemicals whereby the exposure risk is highest. 24D can be easily absorbed by through the skin pores and the mucous membranes of the eyes.

Ingestion or swallowing is a risk to those users who do not wash their hands prior to eating, drinking and smoking specially after handling 24D chemicals. 24D can be absorbed via the GI tract (gastrointestinal tract) by ingested chemical of 24D through the mouth.

Inhalation of 24D can de during the most hazardous phase of application, that is, during chemical preparation while mixing and loading the concentrated product. Mixing of concentrated 24D chemicals carries risk of inhaling 24D in the form of mist. 24D mist can be absorbed by the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract during normal breathing.

Velpar herbicide

Velpar can enter the human body by the following three ways:

direct contact (via skin and eyes);

ingestion (via the GI tract); and

Inhalation (via the lungs).

Direct contact can be during improper way of carrying velpar herbicide and which can give rise to airborne dust in the surrounding that may settle on the skin and if there are air vents airborne dust of velpar can fly into the eyes. Hence velpar can be absorbed via the hair follicles of the skin and by the mucous membranes of the eyes.

On swallowing velpar it can be absorbed through the mouth by the GI tract. The exposure risk can be due to carelessness, or contact with contaminated hand to the mouth. Thus velpar is ingested unknowingly and enter the body.

Inhalation of velpar can be because of exposure due to velpar airborne dusts or mist during diluting or chemical preparation. Inhaled velpar get absorbed via the nose, respiratory tract and the lungs.

Biocide

Biocide can enter the human body by three ways:

Dermal contact;

Ingestion; and

Inhalation.

Dermal contact is normally a considerable fact of human exposure to biocides and may be subdivided into potential or actual dermal exposure. Potential dermal exposure is the quantity which deposits on the clothes or gloves and on exposed skin over some defined duration of time. Actual dermal exposure is an estimation of the amount of contamination which in fact reaches the skin. It is dependent on the efficacy of clothes such as cotton clothes are much absorbent then nylon clothes and it is often expressed simply as a weight of biocide product on skin (mg on skin). Biocides can be absorbed via the skin on contact with biocides when handling and opening packets of biocides product. Although biocide contact to the eye is not a major route, the potential for eye exposure need to be considered especially when contaminated hand can accidently be touched with the eyes and biocides can be absorbed by the eyes.

Ingestion exposure results from the amount of biocides entering the mouth excluding of that which is inhaled. Exposure of ingestion of biocides in workplaces occurs when good hygiene is not adopted by workers. Thus, ingested biocides can be absorbed by the GI tract and the small intestines. Oral exposure can be subdivided into 2 ways: (1) Direct oral ingestion of biocide from contaminated food or (2) exposure through mitigation of the biocide substances from packaging material to saliva in the mouth whereby the substance may leach to the mouth. Hence, results in mitigation of contaminants absorbed unknowingly via the mouth.

Inhalation exposure is generally originated from the airborne concentration or spray mist of biocides which is breathed by exposed individual. Airborne of biocides can be absorbed via the nose, throat, mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and the lungs. Liquid aerosols of biocides from spray can be inhaled and the inhaled particles descend the lungs. Evaporated biocides in the air be also inhaled inadvertently and get absorbed by the respiratory tract.

Sulphur dioxide

Sulphur dioxide can enter the human body by two ways:

Skin/Eye contact

Inhalation

Skin/ Eye contact:

Direct contact with evading condensed gas or liquid of sulphur dioxide can be absorbed by the skin and the cornea of the eyes. Workers whose skin or clothing is contaminated with liquid sulphur dioxide can secondarily contaminate others by direct contact from shaking hands other part of skin on the body or through sharing of contaminated PPEs like safety gloves.

Inhalation:

Inhalation is the major route of exposure to sulphur dioxide. Most exposures are because of vapors coming from evaporators. Inhaled sulphur dioxide reacts immediately with the moisture of mucous membranes of the respiratory tract to form sulfurous acid which is a severe irritant. Thus, exposure in poorly ventilated or enclosed room increases the chance of sulphur dioxide to be absorbed into the body more easily through inhalation.

Nitrogen dioxide vapors

Nitrogen dioxide can enter the human body by two ways:

Direct contact

Inhalation

Direct contact:

Nitrogen dioxide can affect the body if it comes in contact with the eyes or the skin. Harmful quantity of nitrogen dioxide vapors can be absorbed through skin exposure. Nitrogen dioxide contaminates the eyes via absorption of nitrogen dioxide vapors by the mucous membranes of the eyes.

Inhalation:

On inhalation of nitrogen dioxide vapors 70-90 % may be absorbed in the respiratory tract of humans. The most major route of exposure of nitrogen dioxide is by inhalation. It is absorbed by the mucous membranes of the nose, throat, and lungs. The prime path of exposure is via inhalation, making the lungs the primary target organs.

Phosphorous acid

Phosphorous acid can enter the human body by three ways:

Skin/Eye contact;

Ingestion; and

Inhalation.

Skin/Eye contact:

Skin contact is considered to the prime path of occupational exposure to phosphorous acid as it can be easily absorbed via the skin. Skin can comes into contact with phosphorous acid through splashing of the liquid or accidental drop of the acid onto the hand or other part of the body. On rubbing the eyes with contaminated hands phosphoric acid can be absorbed by the mucous membrane of the eyes. Phosphoric acid is considered to be corrosive to the eyes and the skin.

Ingestion:

Phosphorous acid can be absorbed through lips, tongue, throat, and the stomach if it is swallowed. Accidental splash onto lips can lead to leaching of phosphoric acid to be absorbed by the GI tract through the mouth.

Inhalation:

Phosphoric acid can be absorbed through the nose, throat, and the lungs on inhaling the fumes of phosphorous acid.

Caustic Soda

Caustic Soda can enter the human body by three ways:

Dermal contact;

Ingestion; and

Inhalation

Dermal contact:

Exposure to caustic soda can be absorbed by the skin. Skin exposure arises during improper handling of the liquid which can result into fall of caustic soda of the skin. Accidental projection of caustic soda into the eyes can result into absorption of lime water by the mucous membranes of the eyes.

Ingestion:

Caustic soda can be ingested via the mouth and absorbed by the GI tract. Ingestion of caustic soda can arise from contact with contaminated hands with the mouth or swallowing of contaminated foods or drinks.

Inhalation:

Inhalation of fumes of concentrated caustic soda can be absorbed through the nasal passage and the through the upper respiratory system, that is, the nose and throat.