Workshop

on
Environmental Health
Hazards and Safety

on
13th May 2009
at
OFC, Kanpur
Environmental Health
Hazards and Safety

By :
Dr. Anurag Tewari
Assistant Professor
Head, Department of Chemistry
Pravneer Singh Academy of Technology
Kalpi Raod ,Bhauti, Kanpur- 20
at7071@rediffmail.com,anuragtewari@psit.in
 Your Environment

 Air

 Water

 Soil

 Bio Mass
What are various things which are
affecting your health ?
 Things in the environment
that can affect your health
 Chemicals - in water and soil

 Plants - allergens

 Air pollution

 Metals - lead and mercury

 Sun exposure
 Indoor Air Quality

 Dust & pet hair → allergies and asthma

 2nd hand tobacco smoke → emphysema
 Fine particles
(asbestos, silica, graphite, coal) → lung disease
 Carbon monoxide → death
 Outdoor Air Quality

 Ozone

 Carbon monoxide
Seasonal and Non-seasonal Allergens
and Asthma Irritants

 Cigarette smoke
 Cockroaches
 Dust mites
 House dust
 Mould
 Pets
 Pollen
 Factors that Affect
River and Stream Water Quality

 Runoff from local

farms - increases
nitrate and phosphate
levels in surface and
ground water.
 Sewage runoff from
septic systems
(tanks), farms and
waste treatment
plants.
 Acid rain
 Water-borne Pathogenic Micro organisms

 Faecal coliform
 Cryptosporidium
 Vibrio cholerae
 Salmonella
 Giardia
 Phytoplankton
 Lead

 Paint
 Leaded gasoline
 Ceramic dishes &
mugs
 Lead pipes and
solder
 Children & Lead

 Lead paint -in homes

prior to mid-1970’s

 Lead in jewellery

 Lead dust from

renovation of homes,
buildings and bridges
 Symptoms of Lead Poisoning

 Headaches
 Muscle and joint weakness or pain
excessive tiredness or lethargy
 Behavioural problems or irritability
 Difficulty concentrating
 Loss of appetite
 Metallic taste in the mouth
 Abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting
 Constipation
 Mercury

 Heavy metal

 Found in thermometers and

batteries

 Contaminates water, soil, air

 Impairs the neurological system

 Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning

 Psychological change

 Spontaneous abortion

 Congenital malformation
( from birth defects)
 Damage brain and CNS

 Tremors ( paralysis )and gingivitis(

infection of gums)
 Cadmium

 By product of zinc refining

 Marine and aerospace
applications
 Pigments
 Refined petroleum products
 Stabilizers for PVC
Symptoms of Cadmium poisoning

 Diarrhoea , stomach pain

 Bone fracture
 Kidney damage
 Lungs damage
 Damage immune system
 Psychological disorders
 Arsenic

 Glass industry

 Wood preservative

 Electronic goods

 Wind blown dust

Symptoms of Arsenic poisoning

 Decreased production of
RBCs and WBCs
 Skin changes
 Cancer developments
 Infertility and miscarriages
with women
 Brain damage
 Chromium

 Steel and textile industry

 Leather industry

 Electro plating

 Mining of chromium
Symptoms of chromium poisoning

 Carcinogenic activity
 Kidney and liver damage
 Lung cancer
 Upset stomach
 Skin rashes
 Nose bleeding
 What are various environmental risks which
are creating adverse impact on environment ?

Environmental Risks = Various Impacts

 Environmental Risks of Farming

 Pesticide exposure

 Fertilizer runoff

 Animal waste runoff

Environmental Risks from Industry
 Solvent exposure
 Toxic waste
 Air pollution
 Acid rain
 Toxic Chemicals in Our Environment

 Solvents
 PCBs
 Dioxin
 Dioxin
 A chemical by product of several industrial
processes:
 Chemical manufacturing
 Garbage incineration and combustion of
leaded gas
 paper mills
 Dioxin is extremely toxic, and has been
linked to:
 Human reproductive problems and birth
defects
 Impaired child development and
behavioural effects
 Diabetes, and thyroid disorders
 Immunosupression
Dioxin Exposure
 PCBs -polychloronatedbiphenyl

 An “environmental estrogen” -a colourless oily

compound.
 Used as an electrical insulator since the 1930s
 Used in electrical transformers, capacitors, heat
transfer systems, and hydraulic systems.
 Also may be found in welding equipment, X-ray
machines, refrigerators and microwave ovens.
 Chemically stable and resistant to heat and
burning.
 PCBs and Human Health

 PCBs remain in the environment for a long time -they do

not break down
 Elimination of PCBs from the body is very slow -levels in
body tissues increase over time
 PCBs build up in the food chain
 PCBs cause cancer in test animals
 1968 exposure of 1200 Japanese to PCB-contaminated
oil suffered stomach pain and skin problems
(Yusho disease)
 Children exposed to PCBs before birth have a lower IQ
and behaviour problems
 PCBs have been banned from production in the USA
 PCBs and Fish Consumption

 Women of childbearing age should not eat fish listed on

the fish advisory.
 Properly cleaning, skinning, trimming and cooking the
fish can minimize the intake of PCBs.
 Eat only skinless and boneless fillets with as much fat
removed as possible.
 Eggs (or roe) should be discarded.
 Roasting or baking reduce levels of PCBs more than
frying or microwaving. Cooking does not destroy PCBs
nor does it lower their toxicity.
 Don’t eat the juices or fats that cook out of the fish.
 Radon

 Radon is an invisible and odourless gas

 Sources of Radon:
 "Earth and rock beneath home "well water "building materials
 Health Effects From Exposure to Radon:
 "contributes to 7,000 -30,000 lung cancer deaths each year
 "smokers are at higher risk of developing Radon-induced lung cancer
 Radon Levels in Homes:
 "average indoor radon level is 1.3 pico curies per liter (pCi/L) in USA
 "average outdoor level is about 0.4pCi/L
 Most homes don't have a Radon problem, but there is a simple test to
find out if you do or don't have high Radon levels in your home.
 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Surgeon
General recommend that all homes below the 3rd floor be tested for
Radon
The origin for this contamination is both natural and anthropogenic
(by mining activities). The presence of these metallic elements in water
resources are affecting aquatic ecosystems’ balance.
Government and Industry Regulations

 Methylenechloride, used to decaffeinate

coffee, has been replaced by a water process
 Various food additives and dyes have been
restricted or eliminated by the Food and Drug
Administration following tests showing
adverse effects
 Dichlorvos, used for flea collars and "no pest"
strips, was found carcinogenic in animals in
1991, and was barred from these uses by the
Environmental Protection Agency.
 Benzene, a gasoline additive, is no longer
used in consumer products, because of
evidence it can cause cancer.
 Government Agencies

 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

 National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences (NIEHS)
 US Geological Survey (USGS)
 Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
 Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease
Registry (ASTDR)
Hazards should be communicated ?
Why ……
Hazard Communication

Your “Right to Know”

 Five Stages of the Program

 Chemical Inventory List (CIL)

 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)

 Labeling and Marking Systems

 Employee Training

 Written Plan
 Hazard Communication
Chemical Inventory List
Department Name and Phone Number
Inventory Supervisor
Campus mailing address of the Inventory Supervisor
Official Building Name & number
Date of Inventory
Page ( ) of ( )
Chemical Name
Common Name
Location (room number) of the chemical
Actual count of a chemical
Maximum amount anticipated
Container type and size
Physical State and CAS Number
Manufacturer, NFPA Rating
Does the department have an MSDS for it ?
Hazard Communication

Material Safety Data Sheets

 Hazard Communication
Material Safety Data Sheets

• Company Information • Reactivity Data

• Hazardous • Spill & Leak
Ingredients Procedures
• Physical Data • Special Protection
• Fire and Explosion Information
Data • Special Precautions
• Health Hazard Data
 Material Safety Data Sheets:
Your Rights

Your employer must have an MSDS for

every hazardous substance you use as
part of your job.
 Material Safety Data Sheets:
Your Rights

If you request your own personal copy of

an MSDS, your employer has 15 days
to provide it.
 Hazard Communication

Labeling and Marking Systems

 Labeling and Marking Systems

 NFPA Diamonds

 HMIS Labels

 Uniform Laboratory Hazard Signage System

 Labeling and Marking Systems
NFPA Diamonds
 Color coded,
numerical rating
system
 Will be located near
main entrances, fire
alarm panels, or on
outside entrance
doors
 Provide at-a-glance
hazard information
 Labeling and Marking Systems
NFPA Diamonds

 Blue = Health
 Red = Flammability
 Yellow = Instability

 White = Special
hazard information
 Labeling and Marking Systems
HMIS Labels
 Designed to go on
individual containers
of products that don’t
have the
manufacturer’s labels
 Same color
code/numerical rating
system as the NFPA
diamonds
Labeling and Marking Systems
Uniform Laboratory Signage

 Located on laboratory
and chemical storage
area doors

 Pictographs depict
worst hazards present
in lab or area
 Hazard Communication
Employee Training

 Training is required :

 Within the first 30 days of employment

 Whenever new hazards are introduced

 Annually
 Hazard Communication

The Written Plan

If you are exposed to a hazardous substance at

work, you should report it to your supervisor who
will complete an “Employee Exposure Report Form”
Hazard Communication

BE SAFE,

NOT SORRY!
 Hazard communication
promotes safety at work place…… ?
 Safety Is Everybody's Business

Help you decide that safety is everybody’s

business, and why
Provide you with an understanding of
accident causes
Explain safety responsibilities
For both employees and employers
Introduce you to specific safety topics
Fire safety, lab safety, office safety
 Why Worry about Safety?

 Why do you need to be concerned about safety ?

W Loss
C Pain!
EPA

$$$
$
Lost Hur DOL
time t
 Understanding Accident Causes

 Accidents are caused by:

 Unsafe conditions
 Unsafe acts
 Accident Causes

 Unsafe Conditions
 Easiest to correct (and very cost effective)

 Easiest to prevent

 Safety audits

 Safety inspections

 Maintenance schedules for equipment

 Encouraging employee reporting

 Good housekeeping
 Accident Causes

 Unsafe Acts
 Most difficult to address
 Changing behavior isn’t easy
 Best prevented by developing a “safety
culture”
Which one is difficult to visualize or mitigate ?
 Cost of Accidents

 Direct Costs
 Medical Costs (including worker’s comp)

 Indemnity Payments

 Indirect Costs
 Time Lost (by worker and supervisor)

 Schedule delays

 Training new employees

 Cleanup time / equipment repairs

 Legal fees
 Cost of Accidents:

The Iceberg Effect

On average, the indirect
costs of accidents
exceed the direct costs
by a 4:1 ratio
So how do you protect yourself ?

????????
 Safety Cultures

 Establish accountability for safety

 Define safety responsibilities

Thank you