Monitoring Nitrogen Dioxide Exposure And No2 Gas Detection Systems

By Author: Conspec Controls
Total Articles: 15
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Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is an intermediate in the industrial synthesis of nitric acid. This gas has a reddish-brown color and a biting odor. It is also a major air pollutant. The most important sources of NO2 are internal combustion engines, thermal power stations and, to a lesser extent, pulp mills. Butane gas heaters and stoves are also sources. The excess air required for complete combustion of fuels in these processes introduces nitrogen into the combustion reactions at high temperatures and produces nitrogen oxides (NOx). Limiting NOx production demands the precise control of the amount of air used in combustion. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) has many industrial uses, including the production of fertilizers; as the oxidizer in liquid-fueled rockets; as a chemical reagent for determining trace metals in solutions; in woodworking to artificially age pine and maple. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is one of several nitrogen oxides. Nitrogen oxides represent a mixture of gases designated by the formula NOx.

Breathing in nitrogen dioxide can irritate the upper respiratory tract and lungs even at low concentrations. Only one or two breaths ...
... of a very high concentration can cause severe toxicity. Nitrogen dioxide is heavier than air, so that exposure in poorly ventilated, enclosed, or low-lying areas can cause asphyxiation. The most hazardous of the nitrogen oxides are nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide; the latter exists in equilibrium with its dimer, nitrogen tetroxide. Nitrogen dioxide is a colorless to brown liquid at room temperature and a reddish-brown gas above 70 degrees Fahrenheit poorly soluble in water. Nitrogen dioxideis toxic by inhalation, but it is acrid and easily detectable by smell. One potential source of exposure is fuming nitric acid, which spontaneously produces NO2 at temperatures above 0°C.Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is one of a group of highly reactive gases containing nitrogen and oxygen in varying amounts known as oxides of nitrogen. Many of these gases are colorless and odorless. But one, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), often is seen along with particle pollution as a reddish-brown layer in the air.

Nitrogen oxide gases are produced by high-temperature fuel combustion. Primary sources of NOx emissions include motor vehicles, electric utilities and other industrial, commercial and residential sources that burn fuels. Nitrogen oxides react with other pollutants to form ground-level ozone.Nitrogen dioxide irritates the nose and throat, especially in people with asthma, and appears to increase susceptibility to respiratory infections. Ground-level ozone, which is formed when NO2 and other gases react in the presence of sunlight, also can: irritate the respiratory system, reduce lung function, heighten sensitivity to allergens such as pet that commonly trigger asthma attacks, and inflame the lining of the lungs. Typically, damaged cells are shed and replaced much like skin peels after sunburn, but studies suggest that repeated inflammation over long periods of time can result in permanent scarring and loss of lung function. When nitrogen dioxide and/or ground-level ozone reach unhealthy levels, children and people with respiratory disease are most at risk.The health-based primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for nitrogen dioxide in the air, established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is .053 parts per million averaged over the course of an entire year. Due to the seriousness of these health effects, monitoring of NO2 is strongly recommended wherever it may pose a danger. Choose a reputable installer and monitoring system that can be connected to any existing PLC, DCS, or EMS system.

This article is provided by Conspec-Controls.com – A industrial gas detection company that specializes in NO2 Gas Monitor and Nitrogen Dioxide Detector.