The substitution of dangerous chemicals in the workplace is the process of replacing

chemicals A chemical substance is a form of matter having constant chemical composition and characteristic properties. Some references add that chemical substance cannot be separated into its constituent elements by physical separation methods, i.e., wit ...

with less

hazardous A hazard is a potential source of harm. Substances, events, or circumstances can constitute hazards when their nature would allow them, even just theoretically, to cause damage to health, life, property, or any other interest of value. The probabi ...

alternatives or eliminating them, generally to improve

occupational health and safety Occupational safety and health (OSH), also commonly referred to as occupational health and safety (OHS), occupational health, or occupational safety, is a multidisciplinary field concerned with the safety, health, and welfare of people at wor ...

or minimize harmful environmental impact. The process can be lengthy, as an assessment of dangers, costs, and practicality is necessary. Substituting hazardous chemicals follows the principles of

green chemistry Green chemistry, also called sustainable chemistry, is an area of chemistry and chemical engineering focused on the design of products and processes that minimize or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances. While environmental che ...

and results in clean technology.

Chemical Alternative Assessments

Alternatives assessment Alternatives assessment or alternatives analysis is a problem-solving approach used in environmental design, technology, and policy. It aims to minimize environmental harm by comparing multiple potential solutions in the context of a specific proble ...

s are used to determine which chemical is fit to be a substitute. A process-based method of substituting chemicals in the workplace involves: # Listing the chemicals # Noting composition information # Filling data sheets # Process analysis # Risk assessment # Substitute proposal Safety data sheets contain pertinent information about hazards associated with chemicals, including short- and long-term effects. A process analysis is performed, which studies how and when the chemical is used and what technology, equipment, and chemistry are needed. If a risk is not "small", then possible substitutions are considered. A chemical has a "small" risk to humans if there are no long-term negative effects. The exposure is lower than the threshold limit value (TLV), and there are no risks of disease or other health issues. Several factors must be assessed to determine if a chemical is a suitable substitute including potential hazards, exposure, technical feasibility, and low-budget considerations. After substitutes are proposed, the risks of each substitute are compared to one another and tested until a suitable substitution is found.

Hazard Assessment

The potential hazards of a chemical or a substitute candidate must be assessed by noting the

toxicity Toxicity is the degree to which a chemical substance or a particular mixture of substances can damage an organism. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a subs ...

of the chemical to both humans and the environment. An assessment of the chemical should list the dangerous properties of the chemical, such as flammability or corrosivity. It should also note any carcinogenic, reprotoxic, allergenic, neurotoxic, and other related effects on the chemical has on human health.

Exposure Characterization

If a potential chemical substitute has greater exposure to humans and the environment than the original chemical, the toxicity of increased exposure must be considered. A chemical substitute with less exposure or a similar exposure but lower toxicity is preferred.

Life-Impacts Characterization

A life-cycle assessment of the chemical considers the long-term effects a chemical will have on human health and the environment, as well as the ethical and social effects of chemical use. Examples include the addition of greenhouse gas emissions from the use of a chemical or carcinogenic effects of a chemical after prolonged usage. An ethical or social effect considered during the assessment could include a consideration of if the chemical is ethically sourced or if its use infringes on the rights of indigenous people.

Technical Feasibility

A chemical substitute performs the intended task efficiently.

Economic Feasibility

The availability of the chemical commercially in the quantities required is noted. A substitution that is more cost-efficient is ideal, but is not always available.

Legislature

Enacted in the EU in 2006, REACH requires industries to collect safety information on their chemicals and report them to a database. It also requires the substitution of dangerous chemicals to safer alternatives if they are found. The

EPA The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent executive agency of the United States federal government tasked with environmental protection matters. President Richard Nixon proposed the establishment of EPA on July 9, 1970; it be ...

uses the

Toxic Substances Control Act The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is a United States law, passed by the 94th United States Congress in 1976 and administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), that regulates chemicals not regulated by other U. ...

(TSCA) to require industries to record and report the production, use, and disposal of specific dangerous chemicals.

Examples

Substitution of hazardous chemicals can be on different levels such as using: # Less hazardous chemicals in the same process: ## For construction paints: from organic solvents to water-based paints, ## In

printing industry Printing is a process for mass reproducing text and images using a master form or template. The earliest non-paper products involving printing include cylinder seals and objects such as the Cyrus Cylinder and the Cylinders of Nabonidus. The ea ...

for cleaning of printing machines: from organic solvents to products based on esters of vegetable oils, # A new

design A design is a plan or specification for the construction of an object or system or for the implementation of an activity or process or the result of that plan or specification in the form of a prototype, product, or process. The verb ''to design' ...

of the process: ## In metal degreasing: from vapor degreasing with

trichloroethylene The chemical compound trichloroethylene is a halocarbon commonly used as an industrial solvent. It is a clear, colourless non-flammable liquid with a chloroform-like sweet smell. It should not be confused with the similar 1,1,1-trichloroethane, w ...

to high pressure hosing with hot alkaline solution in a closed system, ## In

brazing Brazing is a metal-joining process in which two or more metal items are joined together by melting and flowing a filler metal into the joint, with the filler metal having a lower melting point than the adjoining metal. Brazing differs from we ...

: from fluxes containing boron and fluorine compounds to use of a furnace with reducing atmosphere, # A new process: ## Removal of old paint: from a mixture of dichloromethane and methanol to blasting with steel sand in a closed system. ## From bonding with adhesives to a new design of items locking them mechanically together, mutually, # Avoid the use of the process: ## Avoiding electroplating with

nickel Nickel is a chemical element with symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel is a hard and ductile transition metal. Pure nickel is chemically reactive but large pieces are slow ...

only applied for cosmetic reasons. ## Wooden furniture: from lacquer with organic solvents to no surface treatment especially used for furniture of quality. # Avoid production of products which have hazardous processes.

References

{{Reflist Chemical safety Occupational safety and health