What are the hazards of oil to human body

Petroleum is something we use frequently in our daily lives. We refuel when driving and use natural gas when cooking. These are all components of petroleum. However, what we use are processed products of petroleum and we generally do not come into direct contact with petroleum. Generally, it is mainly the workers engaged in oil extraction who come into contact with it. Friends who work in this field must pay attention to prevent the harm of petroleum to the human body. What are the harms of petroleum to the human body?

Toxic compounds such as benzene and toluene contained in petroleum have entered the food chain, from lower algae to higher mammals, no one is spared. Large numbers of seabirds are trapped in oil. Once their feathers are stained with oil, they may be poisoned or die. In addition, the oil will stick to its fur, making it unable to bear its own weight and causing it to drown. The seal, which had been contaminated by oil, jumped out of the water again and again, trying to shake off the oil on its fur, but finally became exhausted and struggled to sink to the bottom of the sea. Large marine animals such as walruses and whales face the same fate. In addition, the potential damage extends further into the ecosystem where the incident occurred. The surviving organisms will be affected by the toxins and will pass on the effects to several offspring in the years after the impact.

The petroleum gas, benzene, aromatic hydrocarbons and hydrogen sulfide contained in petroleum products are all toxic to a certain extent. When they reach the human poisoning limit and are inhaled by the human body, they will cause poisoning.

① The harm of petroleum gas to people: In the absence of benzene and hydrogen sulfide, the critical value (TLV) of petroleum gas that causes poisoning to people is 300×10-6, which is equivalent to 2% of the lower flammable limit (LFL). The specific phenomena are shown in Table 6-3.

② The harm of hydrogen sulfide to humans: The critical poisoning value (TLV) of hydrogen sulfide is 10×10-6. The reactions of gas concentration exceeding this critical value to humans are shown in Table 6-4.

③ Hazards of benzene and other aromatic hydrocarbons: Aromatic hydrocarbons include benzene, toluene and xylene. The critical poisoning value of aromatic hydrocarbons is generally lower than that of other petroleum hydrocarbons, especially benzene, whose critical poisoning value is 10×10-6. People who inhale high concentrations of benzene gas will experience clinical symptoms such as blood and bone marrow lesions.

④ Toxic gases in inert gases: Filling the oil storage device with inert gases is an effective means of fire and explosion prevention, but inert gases contain a large amount of harmful substances, which will cause serious harm once inhaled by the human body. Its harmful substances are as follows. Nitric oxide: Nitric oxide is a colorless gas with a critical poisoning value of 25×10-6. The critical poisoning value of nitrogen dioxide is 3×10-6. Sulfur dioxide: The content of sulfur dioxide in inert gas is 2×10-6~50×10-6. Sulfur dioxide has a stimulating effect on human eyes, nose, throat and other organs, making people feel difficulty in breathing. Carbon monoxide: When the combustion is incomplete and slow, more than 200×10-6 carbon monoxide will be produced. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, and the critical value of poisoning is 50×10-6. The poisoning mechanism is to prevent the blood from absorbing oxygen, causing chemical asphyxiation.

Through the above introduction, we know the harm of oil to the human body. This is also a particularly serious phenomenon. Friends who work in the oil industry must do preventive work when working, especially to strengthen physical care. In the event of poisoning or any abnormal situation, go to the hospital for treatment in time.