Why is ammonia toxic to humans

Ingested ammonia is diluted with milk or water. Laboratory testing for ammonia exposure will not be useful in making emergency treatment decisions. Medical tests that can detect ammonia in blood or urine are available. However, because ammonia is normally found in the body, these test results cannot serve as biomarkers of exposure. After exposure to low levels, ammonia is either rapidly cleared from the body or metabolized to compounds found endogenously at appreciable levels.

Clinical indices of body ammonia or nitrogen levels after exposure to exogenous ammonia have shown no or minimal change from prior levels. Exposure to high concentrations is immediately and overtly toxic, generally providing an adequate basis for diagnosis.

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. ToxFAQs for Ammonia. Division of Toxicology, U. Department of Health and Human Services. Accessed May 6, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This fact sheet is based on the most current information. It may be updated as new information becomes available. Navigation menu. What is ammonia? Consider endoscopy to evaluate the extent of gastrointestinal-tract injury. Extreme throat swelling may require endotracheal intubation or cricothyroidotomy.

There is no specific antidote for ammonia poisoning. Although administration of corticosteroids to limit esophageal scarring is recommended by some toxicologists, this treatment is unproven and may be harmful in patients who have perforation or serious infection.

Hemodialysis is not effective. Routine laboratory studies for all exposed patients include CBC, glucose, and electrolyte determinations.

Chest radiography and pulse oximetry or arterial blood gases measurements are recommended for severe inhalation exposure or if pulmonary aspiration is suspected. No specific biologic test for ammonia exposure exists. Consider hospitalizing patients who have evidence of respiratory distress or significant skin burns or who have ingested an ammonia solution. Pulmonary injury may continue to evolve over 18 to 24 hours. Residual bronchoconstriction, bronchiectasis and small airway disease may occur, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can develop.

Patients exposed by inhalation who are initially symptomatic should be observed carefully and reexamined periodically. Pulmonary function tests should be repeated on an annual basis.

Patients who develop pulmonary edema should be admitted to an intensive care unit. Acute ocular exposure to ammonia may result in persistent intraocular pressure, cataract formation, and glaucoma with significant reduction in visual acuity.

Patients who are asymptomatic following exposure or who experienced mild symptoms that have been treated may be released and advised to seek medical care promptly if symptoms recur or develop see Ammonia-Patient Information Sheet below.

Cigarette smoking may exacerbate pulmonary injury and should be discouraged for 72 hours after exposure. Obtain the name of the patient's primary care physician so that the hospital can send a copy of the ED visit to the patient's doctor.

Patients with mild to moderate skin burns should be reexamined within 24 hours. Patients who have eye injuries should be reexamined by an ophthalmologist in 24 hours. If a work-related incident has occurred, you may be legally required to file a report; note incident details and contact your state or local health department. Other persons may still be at risk in the setting where this incident occurred. If the incident occurred in the workplace, discussing it with company personnel may prevent future incidents.

If a public health risk exists, notify your state or local health department or other responsible public agency. This handout provides information and follow-up instructions for persons who have been exposed to ammonia gas or ammonium hydroxide solution.

Print this handout only. Ammonia is a colorless, highly irritating gas with a sharp, suffocating odor. It easily dissolves in water to form a caustic solution called ammonium hydroxide.

It is not highly flammable, but containers of ammonia may explode when exposed to high heat. It is also used as a refrigerant and in the manufacture of plastics, explosives, pesticides, and other chemicals. It is found in many household and industrial-strength cleaning solutions.

Most people are exposed to ammonia from breathing the gas. They will notice the pungent odor and experience burning of the eyes, nose, and throat after breathing even small amounts. With higher doses, coughing or choking may occur. Exposure to high levels of ammonia can cause death from a swollen throat or from chemical burns to the lungs.

Skin contact with ammonia-containing liquids may cause burns. Eye exposure to concentrated gas or liquid can cause serious corneal burns or blindness. Drinking a concentrated ammonia solution can cause burns to the mouth, throat, and stomach. Generally, the severity of symptoms depends on the degree of exposure.

There is no antidote for ammonia poisoning, but ammonia's effects can be treated, and most people recover. Persons who have experienced serious signs and symptoms such as severe or persistent coughing or burns in the throat may need to be hospitalized. A single small exposure from which a person recovers quickly is not likely to cause delayed or long-term effects. After a severe exposure, injury to the eyes, lungs, skin, or digestive system may continue to develop for 18 to 24 hours, and serious delayed effects, such as gastric perforation, chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, or glaucoma, are possible.

Specific tests for the presence of ammonia in blood or urine generally are not useful to the doctor. If a severe exposure has occurred, blood and urine analyses, chest x-rays, and other tests may show whether the lungs have been injured. Testing is not needed in every case. If ammonia contacts the eyes, the doctor may put a special dye in the eyes and examine them with a magnifying lamp. More information about ammonia can be obtained from your regional poison control center; your state, county, or local health department; the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry ATSDR ; your doctor; or a clinic in your area that specializes in occupational or environmental health.

Ask the person who gave you this form for help in locating these telephone numbers. Keep this page and take it with you to your next appointment. Follow only the instructions checked below.

Print instructions only. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your community or state health or environmental quality department or:. ATSDR can also tell you the location of occupational and environmental health clinics.

These clinics specialize in recognizing, evaluating, and treating illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous substances. Skip directly to site content. As so, you may pass out or collapse. Don't let it get to this point. You don't know how long you could be out and when you wake up it may be too late.

Especially in the cases where ammonia is swallowed or comes into contact with mucous membranes eyes, nose , swelling and pain can occur.

If you start to feel your upper airways or mucous membranes swell, it could cut off your breathing next. If you ingest the poison by swallowing it or inhaling, you may find yourself bent over holding your stomach.

Vomiting is another way your body tries to rid itself of something harmful. If you're naturally vomiting, let the body run its course. You should still get help, but don't suppress the urge to vomit. If you suspect you or someone you know has ammonia poisoning, you need to call the poison center first.

The number for your local poison center should be saved in your phone. If they tell you to hang up and call the EMTs, do so. Do not ignore their advice, they're experts at what they do. The best way to deal with ammonia and bleach poisoning is to never deal with it at all! You can have filters and monitors installed in your home or commercial building that sense unsafe levels. Don't be a victim of chemical poisoning. Install a detector and keep your area safe today.

From our U. We specialize in the areas of toxic gas detection and water quality measurements , continuing to lead the way in development of reliable monitoring systems. Our capabilities in the area of sensor design and manufacture allow us to offer the kind of application support needed for the most demanding applications. In addition, local product support is available through our network of over 50 representatives throughout the U.

Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a password Forgot Password? Create Account. Inhalation of lower concentrations can cause coughing, and nose and throat irritation.

Swallowing ammonia can cause burns to the mouth, throat and stomach. Skin or eye contact with concentrated ammonia can also cause irritation and burns. If you have been exposed to a large release of ammonia such as from a tanker truck rollover or from a leaking tanker rail car, take the following steps:.

To reduce the effects from exposure to ammonia, it is important to wash eyes and skin as quickly as possible with large amounts of water. There is no antidote for ammonia poisoning, but ammonia's effects can be treated, and most victims recover.

People who experience serious signs and symptoms such as severe or constant coughing, or burns in the throat may need hospital care. Laboratory testing for ammonia exposure will not be useful in making emergency treatment decisions. There are tests that can detect ammonia in blood and urine. However, these tests cannot definitely determine if someone has been exposed to ammonia from an outside source because ammonia is also normally found in the body.

A person exposed to harmful amounts of ammonia will notice it immediately because of the strong, unpleasant smell; strong taste; and likely irritation to the skin, eyes, nose and throat. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. ToxFAQs for Ammonia. Division of Toxicology, U. Department of Health and Human Services.

Accessed May 6, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This fact sheet is based on the most current information. It may be updated as new information becomes available.