Hazardous effects of Concentrated Hydrochloric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, and Potassium permanganate.
Name
Date
Chemical
Introduction
A chemical refers to a substance that is produced by a chemical process. It can then be used in the same process or to perform a variety of functions at home, in businesses or in the industries (Stollard, P. and L. Johnson, 2004). As a result of the numerous types of chemicals in the world today, millions of people have knowingly or unknowingly exposed themselves to hazardous chemicals. This has really endangered their lives. Some of these chemicals are discussed below:
Chemicals involved
Concentrated Hydrochloric Acid
Sodium Hydroxide
Potassium permanganate
Reactions
These chemicals can react to form dangerous or toxic gas called chlorine.
Hazardous effects
They are very dangerous because they can cause a lot of harm if they come into contact with the human body (Ralf, E. et al., 2009). They can damage the body, eyes, skin, respiratory systems and the small intestines. This results from their corrosive effects.
Best root for evacuation
Because of the dangers associated with these chemicals, it is essential to be cautious enough to appropriately evacuate the victims. This can be done by carrying out the possible first aids then rushing the victim to the hospital. At the same time, the factories should be well constructed and protected. There should be fire extinguishing equipments to help stop fires in case of any possible explosion.
Potential collateral damage
These chemicals have the following collateral damages:
Causing respiratory diseases to the human beings
Polluting land that would otherwise be used for agricultural activities
Killing animals
The best way to prevent recurrence
These disasters can be easily prevented if appropriate steps are taken to address the situation especially at the pre-disaster levels.
There should be disaster preparedness at all the time.
The department of emergency should ensure that all the necessary equipments are availed to help in eradicating any explosions experienced.
Chemicals involved
Gasoline
Propane
Ethanol
Potential hazardous effects
The reactions of these gases are quite dangerous (Woodward, R. B. and Hoffmann, R., 2005). It can result into the following hazards:
Explosion
Irritation
Scorching effects
Cancer
Evacuation route
Potential collateral damage
These chemicals are not only dangerous to the users. Their hazards can reach others in the following way:
Can cause fires
Can cause explosions
Can harm animals
Can harm plants
Can cause diseases like lung cancer
Preventing recurrence
The break out of such catastrophes can be prevented by the following ways:
Using the recommended Personal Emergency Equipments like gloves, mask, aprons and fully enclosed shoes (Krost, B., 2001).
Providing timely fire extinguishing services
Proper planning and preparation for emergencies.
Locating factories far away from human population
Chemicals involved
Uranium
Radium
Potassium
Potential hazardous effects
Having radioactive elements in these chemicals make them have the following cause the following dangers to the people:
Cancer
Brain damage
Mutations
Allergies
Hormonal disruptions
Birth defects
Miscarriages
Induced genetic damage
Fatal death
Evacuation route
In order to help tackle the hazards of these chemicals, the following actions should be taken:
Observing the PEE regulations and strictly adhering to them.
Locating mines away from human residence
Carrying out Environmental Impact Assessment to ascertain the level of hazards in case the factory is located in an area
Cleaning the contaminated areas and rehabilitating them.
Potential collateral damages
These chemicals are extremely dangerous. They can cause the following collateral damages:
Permanent poisoning of land and drinking water next to the mines
The users of such waters can be greatly affected. They will die of reproductive cancer, leukemia.
It can result into the death of livestock consuming water from the contaminated sources.
It destroys crops. This leads to economic loss to the farming communities.
Preventing reoccurrence
In order to prevent the possible reoccurrence of the hazardous effects of these chemicals, the following measures should be taken:
Cleaning the contaminated water bodies and lands
Constructing proper storage facilities that can not allow the pilferage of these chemicals to the environment. These must be specially built to meet the international standards. This will really prevent the dangers of dust and other polluting agents (David, M., 2006).
Stopping mining in areas where the pilferage of uranium poisons are seen.
References
Bhandari A. (2000) Aspects of the Bhopal tragedy. in Bhopal Industrial Genocide. Hong Kong:
Arena Press.
David, M. (2006). Construction Safety Engineering Principles: Designing and Managing Safer
Job Sites McGraw-Hill Professional.
Koplan P.J. and Green G.(1990) Public health lessons from the Bhopal chemical disaster.
JAMA, 264: 2795-6.
Krost, B. (2001). The atom economy—a search for synthetic efficiency. Science 254 (5037):
1471–7.
Maskati Q.B. (1986) Ophthalmic survey of Bhopal victims 104 days after the tragedy. J.
Postgrad. Med., 32: 199-202.
Marshall V.C.(2001) The predictions of human mortality from chemical accidents with especial
reference to the lethal toxicity of chlorine. J. Hazardous Mater., 22: 13-56, 1989.
Ralf, E. et al. (2009) Modern Inorganic Chemistry. 3. Edition. de Gruyter,
Stollard, P. and L. Johnson, (Eds.) (2004) Design against fire: an introduction to fire safety
engineering design. London, New York.
Wiberg, E. et al. (2002) Inorganic chemistry. Academic Press, 200nvironment, 1, 517-524.
Woodward, R. B. and Hoffmann, R. (2005). Journal of the American Chemical Society 87 (2):
395.
