Question

1. Identify the agent (chemical, physical, or biological) that could cause harm to human health.
2. Describe the setting where this agent could cause harm to human health.
3. Propose an approach to evaluate the actual or potential harm this agent can cause in this setting (assume you have unlimited resources).
4. Suggest actions people can take to mitigate or eliminate the harm from this agent in this setting.
5. Discuss with your fellow classmates on potential strengths and weaknesses of the designs.

Answer 1

Formaldehyde is a chemical agent used in a variety of applications including hair applications, plastic products, floors, wood works etc., People working in an environment with formaldehyde in air will have the following risks. It  can cause irritation to nose, eyes , throat , can cause coughing, chest pain and and also expected to be carcinogenic .

Formaldehyde present in air when it is more than 0.1 ppm it causes severe irritation to nose, throat and watery eyes.

Formaldehyde in present water can be quantified using TLC method and spectroscopic methods.

TLC method involves quantification using classical chromotropic acid - formaldehyde violet spots developed on TLC

People working in formaldehyde environment must use personal protective equipment to avoid exposure to formaldehyde