Nox: Nitrogen Dioxide and Nitrous Oxide Exposures Essay

Submitted By RockStudy
Words: 746
Pages: 3

NOx

Yvonne JohnsonJuly 29, 2015

LEARNING OBJECTIVES





You will be able to know what is NOx
You will know 2 sources of NOx
Why it is a chief cause of concern
Where to find help

WHAT IS NOx
• NOx is the generic term for a group of highly reactive gases, all of which contain nitrogen and oxygen in varying amounts. • Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) consist of nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) and are formed when nitrogen (N2) combines with oxygen (O2).
• Nitric oxide (NO) has no color, odor, or taste and is nontoxic
• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a reddish-brown gas with a pungent, irritating odor.
• Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a colorless, slightly sweet-smelling, non-toxic gas which occurs naturally in the atmosphere.

SOURCES
• Nitrogen oxides occurs naturally and also are produced by man’s activities.
• In nature – a result of bact4erial processes, biological growth and decay, lightning, and forest and grassland fires
• Man –made is from burning of fossil fuels

HOW DOES NOx FORM?
• There are three generally accepted mechanisms for NOx formation: thermal NOx, prompt NOx,
• and fuel NOx.
• At the surface NOx is a product of combustion and can be emitted from internal combustion engines, furnace, boilers and heaters.

REGULATIONS
• Like all medical gases, nitrous oxide is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a prescription drug.
• In addition to the federal regulations hat govern the manufacture, distribution, and storage of nitrous oxide, there are state laws that are meant to promote the safe use, storage, and delivery of nitrous oxide.

REGULATIONS-cont.
• Two federal agencies have weighed in on the use of nitrous oxide in the workplace. The National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH), the federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations to prevent injury and illness in the workplace.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) is the federal agency that sets and enforces workplace health and safety standards. OSHA has not set a threshold standard for nitrous oxide exposures in the workplace,3 but is developing requirements for monitoring workplace exposures to nitrous oxide. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH00490 20/

REGULATIONS – cont.
• Companies that sell nitrous oxide and facilities that store nitrous oxide are subject to certain environmental regulations. The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) maintains and publishes every two years a list of chemicals sold in the U.S.
This list, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) inventory, includes nitrous oxide. Facilities that use and store nitrous oxide must submit material safety data sheets and report nitrous oxide inventories to the local emergency planning commission, the organization responsible for local emergency preparedness and response.

CAUSE OF CONCERN…..
• One of the main ingredients involved in the formation of ground-level ozone, which can trigger serious respiratory problems
• Contributes to formation of acid rain
• Contributes to nutrient overload that deteriorates water quality
• Contributes to atmospheric particles, that cause