Standard Exposure of Sulphur Dioxide - Case Study Example

Standard Exposure of Sulphur Dioxide By Student Name Course Tutor Institution Date Executive Summary The review of the exposure standard for sulphur dioxide at Safe Work Australia’s Work Place aims at evaluating exposure standards for the government, employers, Workers and professional bodies. The end-point criteria in other words purpose of this evaluation are to determine which exposure standard helps in reducing the incidence of asthma in all workers in the workplace. The study will include reasons for including data that support the proposed exposure standard, and an independent conclusion or recommendation that supports the proposed exposure standard of reducing the incidence of Asthma in all workers. Introduction Safe Work Australia proposed this analysis. It involves evaluating the epidemiological and toxicological data that revolve around effects of high levels of sulphur dioxide to Workers. The recommendations and conclusions of the exposure standards will be entirely based on epidemiological and toxicological studies that are related to effect on human health (SCOEL, 2009). This analysis will give a summary of the epidemiological and toxicological studies from a scientifically point of view. Sulphur dioxide is amongst one of the most reactive gases in the group of oxides resulting from the chemical combination of one molecule of Sulphur and two Oxygen molecules (SO2). It is a colorless non-flammable gas, which has a pungent suffocating or choking smell. It is very irritating to the eyes and the mucus membrane in the nose. It is widely used in the food and beverage industry since it has preservative properties. Emission of Sulphur dioxide occurs every day, the largest source (70%) being from fossil fuel combustion; for example,Burning of coal, petroleum, Non-ferrous smelting, Domestic heating and Food preservation. The second largest source is from industrial facilities that amount to 20% of emission of Sulphur dioxide. Other sources are things like industrial processes; for example, extraction of mineral and combustion of high sulphur containing fuels by vehicles and large ships. Data collected from the recommended stakeholder’s shows that, there is a big difference in exposure standards. The Government suggests that, the exposure standard should be between 0.5 and1.0 ppm. The employers suggest that the current exposure standard should remain the same; the Workers complain that the standard is too high and needs to be lowered while the professional bodies suggest that the current standards may be acceptable depending on the acute or chronic effects of sulphur dioxide. This analysis will give clear details and clarify the confusion around which, standards reduce the chances of getting asthma, the effect of sulphur dioxide on human health (Tunnicliffe, 2001). This report will focus on Sulphur oxide exposure in the work place. According to Ben Nichols Workers in the mining sector, sulphur dioxide fumes overcame denounced The Western Mining Corporation standards for health and safety after five workers. One smelter worker said that workers could lose their eyesight because of sulphur dioxide exposure. This goes further to show that Employers, even though, they might insist that they have good workable health conditions for the employees, they seem to care more about profit as related to employee health and well being. Exposure to Sulphur dioxide and Effects The effects of sulphur dioxide exposure vary from Short Term effects (Acute) to Long Term Effects (Chronic). These effects differ due to different levels of exposure. Sulphur Dioxide can only affect the body if it is or in contact with a human being’s eyes or skin. The organs highly affected by sulphur oxide exposure are eyes, lungs, reproductive system and the respiratory system; thus long term exposure can lead to heart problems especially in individuals who have a history of heart or respiratory problems; for example, Asthma. Acute or short-term effects Research by Ben Nichols: shows that the Short Term effects include Irritation of the eyes, mucus membrane in the nose, throat and lungs. It starts when you smell it then you start coughing, and at times one gets blurred vision (Nichols, 2001). The Symptoms range from Chest pains to breathing difficulties. Protective gear helps reduce such effects. Chronic or long terms effects Further research showed that, the long Term exposure to Sulphur Dioxide can lead to Pulmonary oedema. Pulmonary oedema is the accumulation of fluid in the lungs, which brings breathing difficulty, and it, may lead to Respiratory failure. In other words, it may cause a person to stop breathing. Long Term effects lead to chronic conditions such as, Inflammation of the respiratory tract, wheezing and lung damage; Studies show that it may also affect the reproductive and the creation of new a born. Long term Exposure is a serious thing and can lead to death. Exposure leads to an increase in chance of getting lung cancer (Borges et al, 2002). Epidemiological investigations have proved that Exposure to Sulphur Dioxide increases the risk of various human cancers, including lung and bladder cancers (Zhang et al, 2004). It is implied that Sulphur dioxide may have a cancer promoting effect when it combines with other air pollutants. Tumor genesis occurs by multiple events that may involve the activation of proto-oncogene, as well as, the functional loss of the tumor suppressor gene. The proto-ontogenesis, c-jun and c-fos, which code for a transcriptional factor AP-1 in a form of dimer, can be induced by a plethora of extracellular stimuli including oxidants and cytokines (Smith et al. 2011). In this case, Sulphur Dioxide acts as extracellular stimuli, which bring about negative effects like loss of tumor suppressor gene, which is responsible to reduce the chances of cancerous symptoms. It has been well established that the mutation or over-expression of H-ras gene, can convert it into active oncogene (Bai and Meng, 2005). The rearrangement of the pl6/pRB pathway might increase cell proliferation with alteres p53 protein. Proteins mentioned above are responsible when it comes to tumor suppressing genes and pathways that mediate growth regulatory signals from environmental stimuli to the nucleus. Sulphur Oxide Effect to Indices and Heart Rate between Normal and Asthmatic Adults. To elaborate further on the health effects of exposure to sulphur dioxide, we look at the effect it has on indices of heart rate between normal and asthmatic adults. Sulphur dioxide causes bronchi constriction in normal and asthmatic adults. A graphical recording of the cardiac cycles of 12 normal and 12 asthmatic adults who were exposed to sulphur dioxide were compared (Song et al. 2012). The two groups experienced one-hour exposure for two weeks. Spectral test of the R-R intervals were also done. The observations lead to the realization that, there was an increase in total power and high frequency and low frequency power in the normal adults and a decrease in the asthmatic adults. The difference between the normal and asthmatic adults in terms of TP (Total Power) was +1730ms2 in normal adults and -1021ms2 in asthmatic adults (p Read More