The incident that happened in Petronas gas processing at plant in
Kertih recently gave a big impact to
Petronas due to their higher committed towards safety and health standards. The gas was suspected to be ammonia, which is
leaked from one of its plant at the Petronas Petroleum Industry Complex (PPIC).
This gas leak had cause 24 petronas worker hurt, eight of the workers were sent
to Dungun Hospital while 16 others received treatment at the Paka clinic. One
worker was transferred to the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital in Kuala Terengganu.
This incident occurred while the workers start to overtime and suddenly
smelling the gas, believed to be ammonia. They rush out but trapped and could
not run far as main gate was locked. The smell began to spread throughout the
area and the workers had breathing difficulties after smelling the stink.
The
leaked gas believed to be ammonia. Ammonia is an unusual toxicant in that it is
produced by, as well as being envenomed, to animal. In aqueous solution ammonia
has two species, NH3 and NH4+, total ammonia
is the sum of [NH3] + [NH4+] and the pK of this ammonia/ammonium ion reaction
is around 9.5. It is a colorless gas with
a characteristic strong tangy odor. Its
pure form is called anhydrous ammonia. Ammonia occurs naturally in the bodies
of humans and animals as one of the essential building blocks of proteins and
other important molecules. It is also a by-product of the decay of biological
matter such as dead plants and animals and human and animal waste.
Ammonia is a corrosive and toxic gas, incredibly
versatile chemical that found in fertilizers, plastics, chemicals, explosives,
and pesticides, and it is also used in refrigeration in food processing and
manufacturing industries. Trace amounts of ammonia are also found in the
atmosphere, rainwater, volcanoes, fertile soil, and seawater, although the
chemical usually does not pose a threat because the quantity is so small.
Ammonia
exposure can cause many serious health problems. Poisoning can occur from
contact with ammonia in more than one way. Ammonia can cause poisoning from
being inhaled or touched. The colorless gas of ammonia can be dissolved in
water, transforming it into liquid ammonia. High concentrations of ammonia are
easy to detect because the gas gives off a sharp odor. Table below shows the various
concentration of ammonia in air that can causes the health problems.
Table 1: The effect of ammonia level towards health problems
Effect
|
NH3
concentration in air (ppm)
|
Least perceptible odor
|
5ppm
|
Readily detectable odor
|
20-50ppm
|
No discomfort or
impairment of health for prolonged exposure
|
50-100ppm
|
General discomfort and eye
tearing(no lasting effect on short exposure)
|
150-200ppm
|
Severe irritation of eyes,
ears, nose and throat
|
400-700ppm
|
Coughing, bronchial spasms
|
1700ppm
|
Dangerous, less than ½
hour exposure may be fatal
|
2000-3000ppm
|
Serious edema,
strangulation, asphyxia, rapidly fatal
|
5000-10000ppm
|
Immediately fatal
|
10000ppm (1%)
|
Ammonia is very dangerous and we must
have avoided contacting with it and taking precautions while using product that
contain ammonia. The gas leaked can also be avoided if the workers increase
their safety by wearing gas mask or respirator.
Y.K
Ip.,S.F. Chew, and D.J.Randall, (2001).Ammonia Toxicity,Tolerance and Excretion.Nitrogen Excretion.20,109-148
New Strait Times Malaysia
