Is dimethyl ether harmful?

Is dimethyl ether harmful? For this problem, we need to look at it dialectically, for the human body, dimethyl ether does have certain harms, but if the rules are followed and dimethyl ether is used safely, dimethyl ether can play a huge role in many fields and produce positive benefits.

1. The harm of dimethyl ether to the human body

As a low-toxicity substance, dimethyl ether is non-carcinogenic but neurotoxic, and may cause the following harm to the human body:

(1) Respiratory tract injury. Dimethyl ether can irritate and damage the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, which may lead to inflammation of the respiratory system, such as bronchitis, pneumonia, emphysema, etc. This can cause symptoms such as coughing, coughing up blood, burning in the airways, pain, and long-term exposure may also cause chest tightness and poor breathing.

(2) Skin irritation. Dimethyl ether is irritating to the skin, and if the skin is accidentally exposed to dimethyl ether, it may cause redness, itching, pain, and even allergic reactions, manifesting as symptoms such as itching and erythema.

(3) Central inhibition

After inhaling a large amount of dimethyl ether, it may lead to dimethyl ether poisoning, which has an inhibitory effect on the central nervous system, so that the body is anesthetized, and symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and confusion appear. In order to reduce the harm of dimethyl ether to humans, appropriate precautions should be taken when exposed to dimethyl ether, such as wearing gloves, protective clothing and filtering face shields, and ensuring a well-ventilated working environment.

2. How to use dimethyl ether safely

Dimethyl ether is harmful to the human body and is flammable and explosive, so it is necessary to strictly follow the safety operation procedures to prevent accidental exposure and injury.

(1) Safe storage. The storage environment should be kept away from heat sources, sparks, open flames, and hot surfaces. Store in a cool, well-ventilated place. Keep away from fire and heat sources. The temperature of the warehouse should not exceed 30°C. Work with tools that do not produce sparks. No eating, drinking or smoking is allowed in the workplace, and personal hygiene should be paid attention to after bathing and changing clothes after work. When the skin is in contact, you should not take off your clothes first, you should first rinse them with plenty of water, then take off the contaminated clothes, wipe off the toxic substances on your body with warm water, and then send them to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment. Inhalation: Quickly lift the caller away from the scene, give artificial respiration to the person with breathing disorders, and seek medical attention immediately. Collect the spills. In the event of a fire, mist water, anti-solvent foam, dry powder, carbon dioxide, and sand are used.

(2) Disposal. Dimethyl ether is highly flammable, and its vapors are mixed with air to form explosive mixtures. It can also pollute water, soil and the atmosphere, so appropriate methods are needed to dispose of waste. Recycling should be considered first, and then disposal in accordance with relevant national and local regulations can be considered. Incineration is recommended for supervised disposal. Refer to relevant national and local regulations before disposal. Safety measures should be implemented when disposing of it, and environmental pollution caused by leakage should be avoided. Handlers are advised to wear gas masks, protective clothing and gloves.

(3) Transportation process. During transportation, the transport vehicle should be equipped with the corresponding variety and quantity of fire-fighting equipment and leakage emergency treatment equipment. In summer, it is best to transport it in the morning and evening. It is strictly forbidden to mix with oxidants, edible chemicals, etc. During transportation, it should be protected from exposure to sun, rain and high temperature. During the stopover, it should be kept away from fire, heat sources, and high temperature areas. The exhaust pipe of the vehicle carrying the item must be equipped with a fire arresting device, and it is forbidden to use mechanical equipment and tools that are prone to sparks for loading and unloading. When transporting by road, it is necessary to drive according to the prescribed route and do not stop in residential areas and densely populated areas. It is forbidden to slip when transporting by rail. It is strictly forbidden to transport in bulk by wooden ship or cement ship.

In short, strict compliance with safe operations and procedures can effectively reduce the hazards of dimethyl ether, so that dimethyl ether can play a positive role in medicine, agriculture, industry, fuel, environmental protection and other fields, thereby producing huge economic benefits.

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