- Published: September 13, 2022
- Updated: September 13, 2022
- University / College: Kent State University
- Level: Secondary School
- Language: English
- Downloads: 34
CHEMICAL COMPOUND Mineral spirits are chemical compounds that have hydrocarbons and are in liquid form. They come in various forms that include White spirits, some dry cleaning substances, among others. The debate on mineral spirits and their increasing danger to the society is widely discussed in this article Mineral Spirits Poisoning in New York Times dated Thursday, February 26, 2015. The widespread use of the mineral spirit especially in painting poses significant health risk to the people. This compound has fumes that are readily inhaled by an individual when using the mineral spirit for various issues and this may amount to poisoning . The severity of exposure to this compound is evident in its symptomatic respiratory challenge, headache, and irritation of the skin. The hydrocarbon part of the mineral spirit has carbon which has more affinity to oxygen when inhaled and deprive hemoglobin its ability to combine with oxygen hence leading strained breathing.
The relevance of this article is evident in this era of increased use of paints and drug addiction which include inhalation of such mineral spirits. Although many people have deliberately or ignorantly used these compounds, the dander is reflected in increased respiratory problems. It is worth to note that as part of the health guide and prevailing risk of exposure to some chemical compounds, the article is significant. The article gives an insight into the causes, effects, symptoms and immediate remedial measures towards a victim of exposure to these chemical compounds. The affordability and wide scope of applying mineral spirit has seen it cause phenomenal cases of poisoning that in extreme cases end in fatalities. It is therefore important to understand the chemical component of any compound to establish the extent of risk.
Reference
http://www. nytimes. com/health/guides/poison/mineral-spirits/overview. html