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Occupational Exposure Risks to Sodium Hydroxide and Other Industrial Chemicals in Puerto Rico

By: WebWire

Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), also known as lye or caustic soda, is an inorganic chemical compound manufactured for use in a number of industries. At room temperature, sodium hydroxide appears as solid white crystals.
 
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) reports that sodium hydroxide is used in processing cotton fabric, laundering and bleaching, metal cleaning and processing, oxide coating, electroplating and electrolytic extracting. It is also used to manufacture soaps, rayon, paper, explosives, dyestuffs and petroleum products. Sodium hydroxide is also commonly found in commercial oven and drain cleaners.
 
Some examples of workers at risk of being exposed to sodium hydroxide according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) include those who:


  • Use bleach, oven cleaners and drain cleaners
  • Work in food processing plants
  • Work in public water treatment plants
  • Use sodium hydroxide for making paper, glass, detergents, soaps and other products
  • Mine alumina and produce aluminum


NIOSH states that workers who come in contact with sodium hydroxide can be harmed with the level of harm depending upon factors such as the amount, duration and activity taking place. It can burn the eyes, skin and inner membranes, and cause temporary hair loss according to NIOSH.
 
ATSDR also lists a number of ways people can be harmed. These include severe burns to tissue from contact and spontaneous vomiting, chest and abdominal pain, and difficulty swallowing from ingestion. The agency also states that inhalation of low levels of sodium hydroxide as dusts, mists or aerosols may cause irritation of the nose, throat and respiratory airways. Inhalation of higher levels can produce swelling or spasms of the upper airway leading to obstruction and loss of measurable pulse; inflammation of the lungs and accumulation of fluid in the lungs may also occur. Long-term exposure to sodium hydroxide in the air may lead to ulceration of the nasal passages and chronic skin irritation.
 
“To protect workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for sodium hydroxide and NIOSH has a Recommended Exposure Limit (REL),” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “Companies and institutions in Puerto Rico and throughout the Caribbean that utilize sodium hydroxide, and other potentially harmful chemicals, can turn to the industrial hygiene professionals at Zimmetry Environmental. We offer testing, monitoring and consulting services to identify and mitigate these types of exposure risks. These services also help to keep companies in regulatory compliance.”
 
Zimmetry recently sponsored an educational video about sodium hydroxide and occupational exposure hazards that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/dHRxu0VR3EY
 
To learn more about Zimmetry's industrial hygiene, environmental, air quality, compliance and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .
 
About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.

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