Why is ammonia bad for you

What is ammonia? In pure form, it is known as anhydrous ammonia and is hygroscopic readily absorbs moisture. Ammonia has alkaline properties and is corrosive. Ammonia gas dissolves easily in water to form ammonium hydroxide, a caustic solution and weak base. Ammonia gas is easily compressed and forms a clear liquid under pressure. Ammonia is usually shipped as a compressed liquid in steel containers. Ammonia is not highly flammable, but containers of ammonia may explode when exposed to high heat.

How is ammonia used? How can people be exposed to ammonia? What are the immediate health effects of ammonia exposure? How is ammonia exposure treated? Will laboratory tests assist in making treatment decisions if someone has been exposed to ammonia? How can I get more information about ammonia? Call the following numbers, or visit the websites listed among the "Sources.

Updated: July 28, Revised: May Your browser does not support iFrames. If you inhale or swallow ammonia, it's likely that you'll get a painful cough. It's either from powder in your lungs or burns on your esophagus. This is your body's natural response, trying to force out the harmful chemicals. Chest pain is a scary symptom, most of us think of it relating to heart attacks.

It's relevant in ammonia poisoning too. It could be one of the reasons above powder in lungs or a general inflammatory reaction. Think about what ammonia does to your cells. It destroys them, corrodes them on contact.

So - it makes sense that if powder or liquid got to the lungs, breathing would become difficult. If you experience difficulty breathing, call If available, you should breathe in and out of a paper bag.

When your body senses something out of place, all the systems unite and ignite to get rid of it. That means you could breathe heavy, for what you think is no good reason. The same idea as difficult and rapid breathing above. Wheezing is what happens when there's some blockage of your airway.

This may be inflammation of the poison reaction. Do you know the feeling of a bad fever, where all of a sudden everything aches and the room starts to spin? That could be the onset of ammonia poisoning. Another way your body will deal with a poison is by shutting down processes it deems unnecessary during the high-panic time of poison. That means your brain is taking resources away from your body's attempt to reject the poison.

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. Smelling salts were first used by the early Romans, but they became increasingly popular during the Victorian era for spells of dizziness or fainting. Today, some athletes use them for an extra boost before games or weightlifting. Read on to learn more about smelling salts, including short-term and long-term effects, possible risks, safety tips, and alternatives you can make on your own.

Smelling salts work by releasing ammonia gas that irritates your nasal and lung membranes when you sniff them. This irritation causes you to involuntarily inhale, which triggers respiration, allowing oxygen to flow rapidly to your brain. This makes you begin to breathe faster as a result. But most people use smelling salts to increase alertness and focus.

Many athletes feel that this cognitive boost also temporarily increases their strength. It may be more of a psychological effect caused by increased focus. Most people can safely use smelling salts in low doses as a restorative aid.

According to anecdotal reports, smelling salts can sometimes cause headaches , especially when used in higher doses. Some medical professionals have raised concerns about the possible dangers of misusing smelling salts. The concerns are especially centered around the use of smelling salts to address dizziness or side effects of concussion or head injury from contact sports.

Some athletes use smelling salts to get back in the game as fast as possible. Doing too much too soon can not only delay healing and worsen your symptoms, but it can also put you at risk of further injury or another concussion. At the end of the day, ammonia is a toxic substance. A chemical-free home is part of a healthy home. There are several alternative cleaning products that can be used in place of ammonia.

Mixing natural products such as water with vinegar makes a good cleaner. Also, consider using baking soda. Other non-toxic cleaners, such as citrus-based cleaners, are widely available in retail stores. Ammonia can enter the body if you breathe ammonia gas or if you swallow water or food containing ammonium salts. Most of the ammonia that enters our body is from food or water that rapidly changes into other substances that will not harm us.

You can breathe in ammonia when using cleaning products. Most ammonia that enters the body leaves in urine within a couple of days. Larger amounts of ammonia may enter the body of people exposed from an ammonia spills or gas leak.

There is no antidote for acute ammonia poisoning, but ammonia's effects can be treated. Persons who have experienced serious signs and symptoms may need to be hospitalized. Most people recover. Ammonia is not hazardous to health at concentrations typically found in the environment.

At higher concentrations ammonia can be harmful. The most common health effect is irritation to the eyes, nose or throat. Questions about ammonia and your health are best asked to your medical provider. Tennessee Poison Center www. Medline Plus www. Skip to Main Content. Go to TN. Print This Page.