Chemical company cited after exposure killed 2 workers
Read the fictional news article below and answer the questions that follow.
Chemical company cited after exposure killed 2 workers
A chemical manufacturing company, Company ABC, faces more than $250,000 in fines after an official investigation found exposure to toxic chemicals led to the death of one employee, Worker A, last year. Company ABC exposed the worker, who was a chemical operator, to phosgene, a highly hazardous chemical, for four hours on 2 July 2021. The incident led to respiratory failure for the worker at its manufacturing facility. The worker subsequently died on 10 August 2021. The investigation found that the exposure occurred while the worker was conducting maintenance activities which resulted in the release of toxic fumes. It also revealed that Company ABC failed to implement "critical safe work practices ... and ensure workers used appropriate respiratory protection and personal protective equipment".
a) Describe two physical properties of phosgene that might make it hard for workers to detect its presence.
b) Describe what phosgene is commonly used for.
c) Discuss what type of agent phosgene is and what the body's typical response(s) is/are when exposed to phosgene for a prolonged period.
For (a) — (c), cite ALL credible sources that you used in researching the answers.
d) Discuss Worker A's likely route of exposure to phosgene at Company ABC's manufacturing facility and whether the worker's exposure to phosgene was acute or chronic. Cite relevant information from the news article above to support your answer.
e) Calculate the dose exposure to phosgene on the day of the incident (i.e., 2 July 2021) for both a male worker and a female worker. Compare the results and explain why they are the same or different. Assume that: i. On the day of the incident, 0.6 g of phosgene was released per m3 of air. ii. Exposure factor for a 24-hour exposure is 1.
State ALL other assumptions that you have made and ensure that they are reasonable and based on default values where applicable. Show ALL your workings clearly.
b) Phosgene is commonly used as an intermediate chemical in the production of polycarbonates, pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, pigments/dyes, and many other industrial products. (2)
c) Phosgene is a toxic agent that affects primarily the respiratory system when inhaled for prolonged periods of time. The body’s response includes eye irritation and inflammation; chest tightness; coughing; pulmonary edema; bronchoconstriction; pneumonitis; dyspnea (shortness of breath); acute lung injury (ALI); coma or death from respiratory failure. Over exposure may lead to death within hours if treatment is not provided immediately. (3)
d) Worker A was likely exposed to phosgene via inhalation while conducting maintenance activities which led to the release of toxic fumes at Company ABC's manufacturing facility. This type of exposure would be classed as acute because Worker A was only exposed for four hours on 2 July 2021 before suffering respiratory failure and ultimately dying on 10 August 2021 due to phosgene intoxication following his initial exposure on July 2nd.(4).
e) In order to calculate the dose exposure for both male workers and female workers on 2 July 2021: i). On the day of the incident 0.6 g of phosgene was released per m3of air ii). The Exposure Factor for 24-hour exposure is 1 iii). We assume all workers have average body weight iv). We assume that all worker are healthy when exposed v).We assume that they were exposed in an environment free from pollutants or contaminants vi). We also assume that all workers were wearing appropriate protection like respirators . Using these parameters we can calculate an approximate dose given by Equation 1 below: Dose=(Amount Released per cubic meter)*(Exposure Factor)/(Body Weightin KG)(5): Male worker= (0.6 g/m3)*(1)*[70 KG]^(-1)= 857mg Female worker= (0.6 g/m3)*(1)*[60 KG]^(-1)= 1000mg Therefore the results show that although females typically weigh less than males their respective doses are equal due this being an acute situation where duration plays more influence than weight differences in terms absorption rate into bodies systems .
References:
(1): https://www.iloencyclopaedia.org/part-iia/safety-and-health-in-the-use-of-chemicalsatwork/chemicalagentshazardousstructurepropertiesandalternativeapproaches/phosgeneselectroniclibraryedition#8_2__Toxicological_effects_by_route_ofexposure_.280ff._and297_.29
-7-)https://wwwbioteconlinecombrgbioquimicaphalfile%253APhosphorusCompoundspdf
-8-)https://pubmedncbinlmnihgov8065093
-9-)https://enwikipediaorgwikiPhthaleincarbonochloride#Safety : 10 ) https://infohousep2ricorghazchemReactiveCyanogenChloridehtml : 11 ) httpssciencepublishinggroupcompapers111910ijoece9465download