Fire and Explosion Hazards Due to Medical Oxygen Handling During Coronavirus Pandemic

Author Info

Wedad H. Al Dahhan Emad Yousif

Corresponding Author

Wedad H. Al Dahhan
Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq

A B S T R A C T

With the continued outbreak of the coronavirus and the increase in the need for medical oxygen, it became necessary to take all measures for the safe handling of gas. Oxygen is very reactive and behaves differently to air, compressed air, nitrogen and other inert gases. Medical oxygen, at high pressure, from a cylinder, can react violently with hydrocarbons such as oil and grease which may be used mistakenly in cylinder valve or regulator. The oxidation products are a potentially explosive hydroperoxide. Nearly all materials including rubber, textiles, and metals will burn vigorously in the presence of oxygen. Atmospheric air contains nitrogen 78%, oxygen about 21% and with 1% remaining including a variety of other gases like carbon dioxide and argon. Even a small increase in the oxygen level in the air to about 24% can create a dangerous situation. It becomes easier to start a fire, which will then burn hotter and more fiercely than in atmospheric air and may be impossible to put the fire out. Increase the concentration of oxygen due to leaking valve or hose in a poorly ventilated room or in confined space can quickly create a dangerous level.

Article Info

Article Type

Research Article

Publication history

Received: Mon 09, Aug 2021
Accepted: Sat 11, Sep 2021
Published: Thu 11, Nov 2021

Copyright

© 2023 Wedad H. Al Dahhan. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Hosting by Science Repository.
DOI: 10.31487/j.JCMCR.2021.02.01