Health Hazards of Organic (mostly) Vapors

1
Health Hazards of Organic (mostly) Vapors

• a review of the toxicities of vapors from
  substances that are liquids under normal
  conditions of use

2
Introduction

• Used as solvents, fuels, chemical intermediates,
  etc.gt 1000s of substances
• Aliphatic alicyclic hydrocarbons
• Aromatic hydrocarbons
• Halogenated hydrocarbons
• Oxygenated hydrocarbons
• Nitrogen-containing compounds
• Miscellaneous

3
Aliphatic/Cyclic Aliphatic Hydrocarbons

• Aliphatic/cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons are
  further classified as
• Alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, arenes, cycloalkanes,
  cycloalkenes
• Relatively high exposure levels
• Primary health hazard dermatitis
• Primary physical hazard fire explosion
• Examples propane, isobutane, cyclohexane

4
Aromatic Hydrocarbons

• Pleasant Odor
• Aromatics used in gasoline to increase octane
  rating
• Examples include toluene, xylenes, ethyl
  benzene, styrene, benzene
• Benzene
• Notorious for its ability to damage
  blood-forming systems gtblood diseases
• Symptoms dyspnea, anemia, rapid HR, low BP,
  weakness, leukemia, death

5
Halogenated Hydrocarbons

• Consist of five elements fluorine, chlorine,
  bromine, iodine, and astatine
• Do not occur naturally expensive
• Symptoms include narcosis, liver/kidney damage,
  increased HR, dermatitis
• Examples carbon tetrachloride,
  perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene, methyl
  chloride, refrigerants

6
Oxygenated Hydrocarbons

• Aliphatic alcohols
• Cyclic aromatic alcohols
• Ethers
• Aldehydes
• Ketones
• Acids
• Esters

7
Aliphatic Alcohols

• All are narcotic
• Examples
• Methanol - toxic to optic nerve others are
  primarily narcotics
• Ethanol - toxicity relatively low have additives
  to produce denatured alcohols

8
Cyclic Aromatic Alcohols

• Most are similar to aliphatic alcohols of similar
  molecular weight
• Examples
• Benzyl alcohol
• Phenol - Acts on CNS. Overexposure can lead to
  collapse and death and respiratory paralysis.
  There have been reported episodes of fatal
  exposure to phenol.

9
Ethers

• All narcotic, irritant in high concentrations
• Fire/explosion hazard from peroxides
• Examples
• Ethyl ether
• Diisopropyl ether rapid forming peroxides
• Unique hazards of chloromethyl ethers
• Carcinogenic in several species

10
Aldehydes

• Known for skin and mucosal irritation and CNS
  effects. Also sensitizing properties.
• Examples
• Formaldehyde Sensitizer potential carcinogen
• Acetaldehyde Eyes, nose and throat irritant CNS
  depressant, kidney and reproductive effects
  potential carcinogen

11
Ketones

• Narcotic type actions irritant to eyes, nose,
  throat
• Examples
• Acetone
• Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)
• Generally, ketones are pleasantly aromatics and
  have been used in perfumes, etc.

12
Acids and Esters

• Acids
• Acids are highly soluble irritants
• Formic acid one of most severe irritants
• Breathing difficulty, skin burns, nausea,
  dermatitis, etc.
• Esters
• Most commonly, narcotics and irritants
• Example ethyl acetate

13
Nitrogen-Containing Compounds

• Nitro aliphatics
• Halo-nitro compounds
• Aliphatic nitrates
• Aromatic nitro- compounds
• Amines
• Amides
• Pyridine derivatives
• Hydrazines

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Nitro Aliphatic Compounds

• Nitromethane - mild irritant narcotic some
  liver/kidney damage
• Nitropropane, produce methemoglobin
• Tetranitro methane - explosive
• Chloropicrin - lachrimator respiratory skin
  irritant used as war gas

15
Aliphatic Nitrates

• All are explosive (primary use)
• Dilate blood vessels gt drop in BP with severe
  headache (relieved with caffeine)
• Produce methemoglobin
• Readily absorbed through skin
• Nitroglycerin, ethylene glycol dinitrate are most
  common examples

16
Aromatic Nitro Compounds

• Nitrobenzene - explosive MeHb producer cyanosis
  most frequent sign
• Trinitro toluene - hepatitis anemia enzyme
  deficiency fatal outcomes reported
• Nitrophenols - increase basal metabolism past
  use in treatment of obesity but cataracts,
  liver/kidney damage death

17
Amines

• Aromatic amines
• Example aniline
• absorbed through skin produce MeHb, etc.
• Polyamines
• Very irritating sensitizers
• Alkanol amines
• CNS stimulant blood pressure effects irritant
  (good warning)

18
Amides

• Dimethyl formamide
• Excellent solvent fire explosion problems may
  cause liver and kidney problems foul odor
• Acrylamide
• Evidence of neurotoxicity with paralysis of hind
  quarters absorbed by inhalation and skin no
  warning cancer suspect

19
Pyridine and Hydrazines

• Pyridine
• Can be absorbed through the skin strong fish
  odor, targets CNS, liver, kidneys, GI tract
• Hydrazine
• Used as rocket fuel CNS stimulant convulsions
  absorbed through skin