Understanding Carbon Monoxide(CO): Pollution, Health Impacts, Safety Limits And Industrial Solutions.

Pollution, especially industrial pollution, is increasing day by day, and the air quality is decreasing as a result. When we talk about air pollution, there are various pollutants like CO2, SO2, and VOC among them. CO, or carbon monoxide,(CO Pollution) is one of them. In this article, we will look into carbon monoxide, its impact on the industrial work environment, health impacts, safety limits, and the solutions required to limit exposure for industry.

What is carbon monoxide (CO)?- CO Pollution

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous, flammable gas that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. It is slightly less dense than air and is soluble in water.

How Carbon Monoxide is Generated:

Carbon monoxide (CO) generated by natural gas, wood, or gasoline is burned incompletely.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Sources:

Natural Sources:

Natural sources of carbon monoxide include the following:

Volcanoes
Natural Gas
Forest Fires
Lighting

Man-made sources

Man-made or artificial sources of carbon monoxide (CO) are as follows:

Vehicle Emissions
Barbeques
Wood stoves
Gas and water heaters
Gas stoves
Fuel-fired heaters
Fireplaces
Gas dryers

Industrial Sources

Metal manufacturing
Electricity supply
Mining metal, ore, and coal
Food manufacturing
Extracting oil and gas from land or sea
Production of chemicals
Cement, lime, plaster
Concrete manufacturing
Petroleum refining

Industrial Processes That Generate CO

Laser Cutting
Soldering
Plasma Cutting

Health Impacts of Carbon Monoxide(CO Pollution):

Carbon monoxide has Severe health impacts are on industrial workers and all people who are in constant contact with fossil fuel burning and processes that produce carbon monoxide, which are listed above. Some of the important health impacts are listed below:

Short-term:
exposure from breathing carbon monoxide can cause:

Headache
Nausea and vomiting
Blurred vision
Confusion
Dizziness
Chest pain
Weakness
Difficulty breathing
Damage to the heart and brain
Unconsciousness

Breathing in high amounts of carbon monoxide is life-threatening.

Long-term:
Exposure to high carbon monoxide levels can cause:

Miscarriage
Damage to a developing fetus
Seizures
Coma
Heart failure

Safety Limits for Carbon Monoxide (CO Pollution):

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states that the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for carbon monoxide (CO) is 50 parts per million (ppm). This means that the average concentration of CO in the air over an 8-hour period should not exceed 50 ppm. The 8-hour PEL for CO in maritime operations is also 50 ppm.

You can read various safety limits for CO here.

In India, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has also set some norms about carbon monoxide exposure. These are as follows:

For industries, the 8-hour PEL of CPCB for industrial, residential, rural, and other areas is 02 mg/m3, and for 1 hour, PEL is 04 mg/m3. The 8-hour PEL of the conditional and sensitivity areas declared by the central government . is 02 mg/m3, and the 1-hour PEL is 04 mg/m3.

Solutions for Carbon Monoxide (CO Pollution) Exposure in Industries:

To limit the exposure of carbon monoxide (CO) in industries and mitigate the risks for industrial workers.

Measurement through CO sensors: Industries should monitor and measure carbon monoxide (CO) by using carbon monoxide monitoring sensors, through which they can monitor, control, and measure carbon monoxide exposure.

Using extraction solutions: Industries must use extraction solutions to control CO exposure in the industrial environment. Solutions such as Filter on Soldering Fumes Extraction Solutions, Filter on Laser Fumes Extraction Solutions, and Filter on Plasma Cutting Fumes Extraction Solutions are for controlling soldering fumes, laser cutting fumes, and plasma cutting fumes exposure, which also results in CO exposure.

Using ventilation solutions: Industries must use ventilation solutions such as LEV (local exhaust ventilation) for a clean air environment in the workplace.

No Vehicle Use for Walking Distance: Everyone should follow the no vehicle use policy for walking distance, which can reduce CO in the environment. Making such little effort can create a big impact on the environment in the long run, which is the best initiative for our long-term goal, “Mission Zero Pollution.”

Visit blogs to learn more about the critical features of clean air system design and air pollution control systems created by Filter On India.

Filter On India has been working towards “Mission Zero Pollution” for the last 40+ years as a clean air solutions partner for industries. We specialize and have expertise in welding fumes, oil mist, coolant mist, dust collection, soldering, laser marking, laser cutting, plasma cutting, fumes in fastener manufacturing, ball point tip manufacturing, oil quenching, kitchen fumes, etc. Filter On has 70+ clean air solutions, so you can contact us for more information about our solutions. You can reach us through the web or visit us at our corporate office at Pune, or mail us at : marketing@filter-on.com

Clearing the Air: Understanding NO₂ Pollution, Health Risks, Safety Standards, and Industrial Solutions

Air pollution is an important and serious issue, as the world is facing critical consequences due to its impact on people's health. Government . agencies took serious action against those who caused pollution. Nitrogen oxide is one of the primary air components in the air and, if inhaled, is dangerous to health. In this article, we will discuss nitrogen oxide (NO₂ )'s role as a pollutant, health effects due to NO₂ Pollution, safety limits, and industrial solutions and precautions amid its exposure.

What is nitrogen dioxide (NO₂ ) & NO₂ Pollution

Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂ ) is a gaseous air component composed of nitrogen and oxygen. NO₂ is one of a group of related gasses called nitrogen oxides, or NOx. NO₂ is created when fossil fuels such as coal, oil, methane gas (natural gas), or diesel are burned at high temperatures.

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) as a Pollutant:

Natural Sources of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂):

Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) can be formed from both natural and human activity. Natural sources include:

lightning strikes
volcanoes
oceans
biological decay

Combustion creates oxides of nitrogen, a major portion of which is nitrogen dioxide. When vehicles emit oxides of nitrogen, 90 to 95 percent of the emissions are nitric oxide (NO).

However, nitric oxide quickly oxidizes in outdoor air when reacting with oxygen, ozone, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to form nitrogen dioxide. The oxidation process occurs indoors, but at a slower rate.

Man-Made Sources:

The main source of nitrogen dioxide resulting from human activities is the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, gas, and oil), especially fuel used in cars.

Industrial sources that are responsible for nitrogen oxide (NO₂) are as follows:

Welding:

Nitrous gasses are often responsible for acute poisoning when welding. They occur during gas welding and arc welding processes.

Other than welding, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) can be found in the following processes:

Nitric acid manufacturing
Titanium pickling
Stainless steel pickling
Aluminum bright dip
Metal finishing
Precious metals refining
Chemical etching
Fertilizer production
Glass making
Industrial boilers
Aqueous chemical production

Health Impacts of Nitrogen Dioxide(NO₂ Pollution):

Breathing air with a high concentration of NO₂ Pollution can irritate the airways in the human respiratory system. Such exposures over short periods can aggravate respiratory diseases, particularly asthma, leading to respiratory symptoms (such as coughing, wheezing, or difficulty breathing), hospital admissions, and visits to emergency rooms. Longer exposures to elevated concentrations of NO₂ Pollution may contribute to the development of asthma and potentially increase susceptibility to respiratory infections. People with asthma, as well as children and the elderly, are generally at greater risk for the health effects of NO₂ Pollution.

NO₂ , along with other NOx, reacts with other chemicals in the air to form both particulate matter and ozone. Both of these are also harmful when inhaled due to their effects on the respiratory system.

As per the 1998 National Research Council Committee on Toxicology study, which investigated incidents of accidental exposure to NO₂ Pollution, Workers in agriculture, mining explosions, space exploration, and military activities have been accidentally exposed to high concentrations of NO₂ Pollution, resulting in a wide range of severe medical ailments, including:

breathing difficulty
fever
bronchial pneumonia
acute bronchitis
death

In short, the health impact of nitrogen dioxide categories is:

Short-term:
Breathing nitrogen oxides can cause:

Irritation of the respiratory system, eyes, and skin
Aggravation of respiratory diseases, particularly asthma
Coughing and choking
Nausea
Headache
Abdominal pain
Difficulty breathing

Skin and eye contact with nitrogen oxide gases or liquid nitrogen dioxide can cause irritation and burns.

Long-term:
Long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide can cause:

Asthma
Respiratory infections

Exposure to very high levels of nitrogen oxides may cause:

Death
Genetic mutations
Harm to a developing fetus
Decreased female fertility
Spasms
Swelling of the throat
Rapid pulse
Dilated heart

Safety Limits for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂ Pollution):

In the industrial environment, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) has exposure limits set by OSHA that are as follows:.

The EPA limit for Nitrogen Dioxide(NO₂) exposure is as follows:

The official level of the annual NO₂ standard is 0.053 ppm, equal to 53 ppb, which is shown here for the purpose of clearer comparison to the 1-hour standard.

In India CPCB has set the norms for Nitrogen Dioxide(NO₂) exposure limits that are as follows:

How do I evaluate the exposure to nitrogen

According to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services fact sheet to evaluate exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), here are some answers to the following questions:

How hazardous is the substance?
How much of the substance is released into the workplace?
Whether harmful skin or eye contact could occur?

Safety Precautions for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) Exposure:

Change the NO₂-exposed clothes immediately.
Eye wash fountains are required at the workplace for emergency use.
If skin exposure happens, then emergency shower facilities should be provided.
In an emergency, if the exposure limit is 20 PPM or higher, then you must use strong self-breathing apparatus approved by NIOSH with a full face piece.

Solutions for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂ Pollution) Exposure in Industries:

Nitrogen dioxide is harmful for industrial workers, especially welders, so industries need to take care and implement solutions to control exposure to nitrogen dioxide. The following solutions must be implemented:

Using extraction solutions:

Using extraction solutions like Filter on Welding Fumes Extraction Solutions will be very effective for reducing nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) exposure due to welding fumes. This reduces the concentration in the breathing zone of the welder effectively.

Using ventilation solutions:

Using ventilation solutions can reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) exposure to some extent, so for the safety of welders, companies must take the necessary precautions for ventilation at the workplace. The ventilation facilities have to be arranged in such a way that the welders work in the supply air stream. Ventilation systems like local exhaust ventilation (LEV) are an effective solution in such scenarios.

Using personal protective equipment:

If the room ventilation is not adequate in particularly confined spaces, then suitable breathing masks have to be worn. These should be independent from the atmosphere, such as, for example, fresh-air breathing apparatus. Welding helmets with a compressed air supply may also be necessary in confined spaces.

Other Solutions:

Companies should pay attention to certain procedural and workplace-specific factors to ensure that nitrous gasses are released in quantities that are as low as possible. These include, among others:

Always use smaller burner sizes and flame lengths.
Avoiding free-burning flames or
Always maintain a small distance between the burner and the workpiece.
Always use low-NOx burners in boilers.
Please set policies that reduce the use of diesel transportation.
Try to switch diesel fuel-burning vehicles to electric vehicles.
Encourage public transport, biking, and walking.