Determination of nitrate content in whey and milk powders at a dairy after an occupational accident with nitric acid.
A case of accidental occupational intoxication by fumes of nitrogen oxides and the application of an indirect method for the analysis of nitrate, nitrite, and nitro groups to establish the origin of the intoxication are presented. The method is based on the formation of a copper neocuproine complex, and extraction of the complex with methyl isobutyl ketone. The amount of copper in the organic phase is directly proportional to the nitrate content. This copper complex is determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results, which showed that samples from the contaminated workroom contained 0.1-0.2% nitrate, while blanks contained less than 0.02%, strongly support the hypothesis proposed for the course of the accident.
D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D003611:Dairy Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000032:analysis; D009574:Nitro Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides / Q000506:poisoning*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides