What is n-hexane?
N-hexane is a slightly odorous liquid under normal conditions. Easily volatile, almost insoluble in water, easily soluble in ether and alcohol. N-hexane often contains a certain amount of benzene and other hydrocarbons.
N-hexane is often used as: Cleaning and decontamination agent for color printing machines and hardware and electronic components; Extraction of fats and vegetable oils; Glue preparation, used for shoemaking and ball making; Paint thinner; Many gasolines are also used Contains n-hexane. In addition, n-hexane is also used for catalytic reforming in the petroleum processing industry, propylene solvent recovery in the plastics manufacturing industry, and in various industries such as pharmaceuticals, furniture manufacturing, and electrical appliance manufacturing.
What are the professional contacts?
1. Although n-hexane can enter the body through the respiratory tract, digestive tract, and skin, occupational poisoning is mostly absorbed through the respiratory tract and skin.
2. When separating n-hexane from petroleum fractions, refinery gas, and natural gas.
3. As a solvent, especially in the extraction of vegetable oils and as a solution for synthetic rubber solvents, laboratory reagents and low-temperature thermometers.
4. When used as a solvent for adhesives.
5. Workers who are exposed to n-hexane in oil refineries, gas refineries, rubber factories, thermometer factories, shoe factories, luggage factories, etc.
The poisoning effect of n-hexane
N-hexane poisoning can be divided into acute poisoning and chronic poisoning.
Acute poisoning: Acute inhalation of high concentrations of n-hexane can cause eye and respiratory tract irritation and central nervous system anesthetic symptoms. Oral poisoning may cause acute gastrointestinal and upper respiratory tract irritation.
Chronic poisoning: The onset of this disease is insidious and slow. It takes 3-28 months from exposure to onset, and the course of the disease ranges from 6-30 months. It is mostly sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Clinically, there is often an incubation period, usually about 10 months, followed by prodromal symptoms such as loss of appetite, dizziness, and weight loss, followed by sensory abnormalities such as “electric shock-like”, “ant-like appearance”, and “swollen and thickened”. Sensory and motor disorders occur.
How to strengthen the prevention of n-hexane poisoning?
Through process reform, reduce direct contact and usage of n-hexane, strengthen local closed ventilation and other measures to reduce the concentration of n-hexane in the air.
Protective masks and protective clothing should be worn, and n-hexane should be used to wash hands. Establish a pre-employment and regular physical examination system, and workers with neurological and cardiovascular system diseases should be closely observed. Regular physical examinations should pay special attention to the examination of the peripheral nervous system.
Awareness of prevention should be raised, the occupational health management system should be improved, health education should be strengthened, occupational health supervision should be strengthened, and laws and regulations should be improved.
