What harm does ammonia do to the human body?

Nowadays, when people are decorating their homes, they have to test whether the formaldehyde content exceeds the standard. After all, when this harmful gas acts on the human body for a long time, it will greatly reduce the body's immunity and lead to some terrible diseases. In addition to formaldehyde, ammonia can always be smelled in daily life. So, what harm does ammonia do to human health? Experts remind that ammonia is actually very harmful to the human body. Let's take a look at what's going on.

Is ammonia harmful to the human body?

Ammonia, NH3, a colorless gas. Has a strong pungent smell. Density 0.7710. Relative density 0.5971 (air = 1.00). It can be easily liquefied into a colorless liquid. It can be liquefied by applying pressure at room temperature (critical temperature 132.4°C, critical pressure 11.2 MPa, i.e. 112.2 atmospheres). Boiling point -33.5℃. It is also easy to solidify into a snow-like solid. Melting point -77.75℃.

Soluble in water, ethanol and ether. At high temperatures, it decomposes into nitrogen and hydrogen, which has a reducing effect. It can be oxidized to nitric oxide in the presence of a catalyst. Used for making liquid nitrogen, ammonia water, nitric acid, ammonium salts and amines, etc. It can be directly synthesized from nitrogen and hydrogen. It can burn the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes of the respiratory organs. If people inhale too much, it can cause lung swelling and even death.

What are the hazards of long-term inhalation of ammonia produced in pig farms?

Patients have burning pain in the throat, cough, fatigue, bronchitis and peribronchitis.

In acute moderate poisoning, the above symptoms are aggravated and blood is found in sputum. In severe cases, hemoptysis, pulmonary edema, and bronchial tuberculosis may cause coughing and sputum. Some patients may suffer respiratory and cardiac arrest after inhaling extremely concentrated ammonia gas.

⑵ Hazards of contact with skin and eyes.

Low concentrations of ammonia can quickly irritate the eyes and moist skin, causing coffee-like coloring, deep tissue damage, and can induce convulsions: tearing, photophobia, hoarseness, and coughing.

The irritation of ammonia is a reliable warning signal of harmful concentrations, including difficulty breathing, sometimes blood in sputum, mild cyanosis, and the main symptoms of poisoning after inhaling ammonia gas. After long-term exposure, low concentrations of ammonia will be difficult to detect. Inhalation is the primary route of exposure, valve rupture, etc. Contact of high concentrations of ammonia gas with moist skin or eyes can cause severe chemical burns. Acute mild poisoning: severe cough, large amounts of pink foamy sputum, shortness of breath, and palpitations. The main symptoms of acute ammonia poisoning are irritation and burns of the respiratory mucosa. The severity of the symptoms varies depending on the concentration of ammonia, the duration of inhalation, and personal sensitivity.

Acute mild poisoning of ammonia hazards

⑴ Hazards of inhalation.

High concentration of vapor is highly irritating to eyes and may cause expectoration or hemoptysis. But due to olfactory fatigue, blurred vision, and conjunctival congestion.

Skin contact may cause severe pain and burns.

Severe inhalation poisoning may cause complications such as laryngeal edema, adhesion of eyelids and eyeballs, and blindness. Repeated or prolonged exposure to ammonia can cause conjunctivitis. Ammonia enters the trachea and cataracts, causing tracheal obstruction. The corroded parts become gelatinous and soft, causing suffocation. Inhalation of high concentrations of ammonia can directly affect the permeability of pulmonary capillaries and cause pulmonary edema and dyspnea. Laryngeal edema will be further aggravated, resulting in dyspnea, coughing up white or bloody foamy sputum, and large and medium bubbling sounds in both lungs. It can cause pain and burns, leading to obvious inflammation and possible edema, more severe pneumothorax and mediastinal emphysema, scars, permanent opacity, bulging eyes, glottis stenosis, and loss of respiratory mucosa, sore throat, and hoarseness.

Acute inhalation ammonia poisoning is often caused by accidents such as pipe rupture, coughing up phlegm, chest tightness and mild headache, dizziness, laryngeal edema: dry throat, sore throat, obvious conjunctival congestion, obvious cyanosis, or acute respiratory distress syndrome, dry or wet hiccups in the lungs.

Acute severe poisoning, epithelial tissue destruction, corneal opacity and iris inflammation. Mild cases generally resolve, but severe cases may persist for a long time and cause persistent edema, convulsions, drowsiness, coma and other disturbances of consciousness.

Symptoms of mild ammonia inhalation poisoning include rhinitis, pharyngitis, chest tightness and pain behind the sternum.