Health and Hazard Study

Safety assessment of chemicals used in the production of Ethylenediamine is a must to ensure

that the manufacturing process design comply with safety and environmental standards.

Ethylene’s Safety and Hazard Assessment. Ethylene has a high vapor pressure thus it tends to

migrate easily into the atmosphere. It is extremely flammable liquid or vapor. Containers of

ethylene may rupture violently under prolonged exposure to fire or heat and may cause

explosion. According to New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, no occupational

exposure limits have been established for ethylene. However, it does not imply that ethylene is

not harmful. Moreover, large amounts of ethylene will decrease the amount of oxygen present.

Short-term health effects upon exposure to ethylene may occur such as frostbite, headache,

dizziness, fatigue, lightheadedness, confusion and unconsciousness. According to Dow Chemical

Company, studies in laboratory animals upon exposure to ethylene does not affect fetal

development or reproduction and does not cause cancer. However, metabolic studies in

animals and humans have revealed that ethylene is metabolized to ethylene oxide, which is

known to have carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. In the figure below shown is the NFPA

hazard rating of ethylene.

Ethylene Oxide’s Safety and Hazard Assessment. Ethylene Oxide is highly flammable and must

be diluted reduce flammability. It is corrosive to most tissues. Signs and symptoms of acute

exposure to ethylene oxide includes shortness of breath, cough, pumonary edeme, pneumonia,

and respiratory failure. Lethargy, headache, dizziness, twitching, convulsions, paralysis, and

coma. Cardiac arrythmias and cardiovascular collapse may also occur. Furthermore,

gastrointestinal effects of acute exposure may include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Exposure to the eyes may result in conjunctivitis and and cornea erosion. According to EPA

(1998), Neurological disorders and even death have been reported because of ethylen oxide.

The NFPA hazard rating to Ethylene oxide is shown below.

Ammonia’s Safety and Hazard Assessment. Anhydrous ammonia reacts with moisture in

mucosal surfaces such as eyes, skin, and respiratory tract to produce ammonium hydroxide. In

result, ammonium hydroxide may cause caustic injury. The concentration and duration of

exposure will largely affect the severity of injury. The extent of injury ranges from mild cough to

laryngeal edema and life-threatening pulmonary edema. Ammonia is toxic and irritant to

respiratory tract. Exposure may cause runny nose, coughing, chest pain, cessation of respiration

and death. It may also cause sever difficulty in breathing which may be delayed in onset.

Ammonia is severe irritant to the skin. Skin exposure to high concentrations of gas may cause
burning and blistering. Severe skin burns may result upon contact with the liquid. Exposure to

the eyes (>700ppm) may cause temporary of permanent blindness. A changed mental status or

coma may be seen upon exposure but is not evident unless hypoxemia occurs. When ammonia

is ingested, nausea and vomiting occur frequently. Additionally, urinary retention may occur.

The NFPA hazard rating to ammonia is shown in the figure below.

Hydrogen’s Safety and Hazard Assessment. Hydrogen is flammable and may form mixtures

with air that are flammable or explosive. It may react violently when combined with oxidizers

such as air, oxygen, or halogens. The immediate health hazards that hydrogen causes are

thermal burns. According to Los Alamos National Laboratory, hydrogen is not toxic and there is

no detrimental effect of skin contact has been reported. The primary health effect associated

with hydrogen is that it could displace air in a poorly ventilated or confined space resulting in

asphyxiation. However, when working with liquid hydrogen, there is an additional health hazard

of cryogenic burns. The NFPA hazard rating to hydrogen is shown in the figure below.
Ethylenediamine’s Safety and Hazard Assessment. Ethylenediamine is highly flammable and

reactive. It has a moderate fire potential when exposed to heat or flame but it can react readily

with oxidizing materials. Brief contact with ethylenediamine may result in severe burns.

Symptoms may include pain, severe local redness, and tissue damage. Widespread contact to

ethylenediamine can result in absorption of harmful amount. Allergic reaction can also result

from skin contact particularly with people who have had allergic reactions to similar materials.

Contact with ethylenediamine may cause corneal injury which could result to permanent vision

impairment. Vapor exposure may cause irritation to upper respiratory tracts and lungs. If

ingested, ethylenediamine has moderate toxicity but it can cause the mouth and throat to burn.

In animal studies, repeated exposures resulted to observed effects on the liver and kidneys.

According to Dow Chemical Company, Ethylenediamine has good warning properties. It can be

detected by most people at 2.1 parts per million, below the concentration at which adverse

effects have been observed. The NFPA hazard rating to Ethylenediamine is shown below.