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.