Hazardous chemicals in daily life

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Hazardous chemicals refer to chemicals that possess properties such as toxicity, corrosivity, explosiveness, flammability, or oxidizing capacity, and that pose risks to human health, facilities, and the environment (for a detailed list of such chemicals, see the catalog of hazardous chemicals). You might think that these items are only related to production and that we rarely come into contact with such hazardous chemicals in daily life; however, in reality we often deal with them in our everyday lives. This time, we will introduce them to you. No.1 Insecticide Spray: Insecticides are one of the common items in household kitchens and bathrooms, and they are extremely effective at eliminating mosquitoes and cockroaches! However, this item is a genuine hazardous chemical. Hazard: Flammable, explosive, toxic. On the afternoon of August 23, 2015, a housewife in Beijing was cooking in the kitchen when she noticed some cockroaches near the sink. She quickly grabbed a bottle of insecticide and sprayed it at the cockroaches; they ran under the gas stove, so she directed the nozzle of the insecticide at the gas stove that was still burning. An accident occurred: an explosion took place, and the kitchen was quickly engulfed in flames. The poor woman ended up covered in burns covering 85% of her body; she died at the hospital due to heart and lung failure. This case tells us: never use any pesticides when there is an open flame! Because insecticides all contain highly volatile and flammable solvents. The nanoscale spray particles emitted spread extremely rapidly; even a tiny spark can cause them to ignite in oxygen-rich air, potentially leading to an explosion. Other similar household items include cologne, perfume, hair gel, mousse, etc.; when using them, one should stay away from open flames. Furthermore, since insecticide sprays are toxic, long-term exposure to them should be avoided during use. After application, the area should be ventilated before anyone enters the room to prevent poisoning incidents. No.2 Lime desiccant: The main component of lime desiccant is calcium oxide (CaO), which is commonly known as quicklime. This substance reacts with water to produce calcium hydroxide, also known as slaked lime. Due to its excellent drying and moisture-absorbing properties and low cost, it is widely used in industries such as food, clothing, tea, leather, footwear, and electrical appliances. This item is used for the packaging boxes of newly bought shoes, packaged foods, tea, and more. (Familiar, right?) ) This item is a common desiccant, and accidents generally do not occur during its normal use. But if its packaging is opened, its corrosiveness becomes apparent. When it reacts with water, it releases a large amount of heat and produces a strong base. Therefore, contact of this product with the skin, eyes, esophagus, etc., can cause chemical burns to the human body. Here is an example: In 2015, a 5-year-old child in Shangrao, Jiangxi, accidentally got food desiccant in their eyes after opening it. Diagnosis shows that the child has burns to the right eyeball and eyelid, as well as endophthalmitis, which may cause permanent vision damage. Although many parents tell children not to eat the desiccant in food bags, apart from not consuming it, children should also not use the desiccant as a toy to avoid accidents such as skin and eye burns. (Note: Calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide are not listed in the catalog of hazardous chemicals; however, due to their strong corrosiveness and frequent occurrence in daily life, they are included here.) No. 3 Hydrogen: Being lighter than air, hydrogen is often used to fill balloons. When walking in the square, don’t you often see scenes like those in the pictures? Hazard: Flammable and explosive. But be careful! Hydrogen is a flammable gas, and a mixture of hydrogen and air can explode when exposed to an open flame. On the morning of December 30, 2015, an explosion of a hydrogen balloon occurred at Xiashan Stadium in Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, resulting in 16 children and parents who were attending the \"3rd Parent-Child Fun Sports Meeting of Zhanjiang South China Education Group 2015\" being injured and taken to the hospital. Later, Xiashan District **reported that a series of small hydrogen balloons exploded due to a parent smoking. Therefore, if you buy a helium balloon for your child, keep it away from open flames and heat sources during play to avoid explosions. For safety reasons, we recommend that you avoid buying toy balloons filled with hydrogen; instead, opt for those filled with helium (an inert gas that is non-flammable). NOTE: You cannot use public transportation (subways, buses) with hydrogen balloons!