Chemical Exposure: Types of products that can cause medical conditions
Although the types of chemicals which can cause injury are too numerous to mention, exposures to these products generally occur either in the work place or at home.
Chemical Exposure at Work
Depending on your occupation, you could be exposed to numerous, dangerous chemicals in your daily work environment. While businesses are becoming more and more safety conscientious, we have found that many people are exposed to dangerous chemicals without protection.
In the work environment, chemicals that can cause potential problems are found in the following agents: cleaning solvents, dry cleaning solvents, spray paints, paint removers, dyes, fuel such as gasoline and kerosene, degreasers and lubricants.
Another harmful exposure, unique to those who performed or worked around others performing welding, results from the release of manganese contained in welding smoke. Manganese which is found in stainless and carbon steels is also in welding rods. Manganese is a toxin which can cause injury to the parts of the brain that transmit signals to other parts of the body.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified manganese emissions, from welding and other steel processing, as "toxic releases." These emissions cause what is called manganese poisoning or manganese. Recent studies have also indicated that welders get Parkinsons Disease up to 16 years younger than the general population. Manganese poisoning can occur within as little as 49 days of regular exposure though it usually takes several years or deceased before symptoms appear.
Some of the symptoms associated with manganese poisoning include:
» Decreased movement
» Decreased arm swing when walking
» Tremors
» Shakiness/loss of balance
» Stiffness in an extremity - arms or legs
» Slowed or slurred speech
» Decrease in voice volume
» Involuntary muscle contractions
» Decreased facial expression
» Difficulty writing
» Sudden mood changes/depression
» Short term memory loss
Chemical Exposure at Home
In the home environment, while many household products are being designed with proper warnings, there are occasions where individuals are exposed to harmful concentrations of various chemicals.
These chemicals can be found in some of the following products:
» oven cleaners,
» bathroom cleaning products,
» pesticides,
» bug spray,
» drain cleaners,
» carpet cleaners,
» household spray paint products and
» home mechanical cleaning products