Intentional ingestions of dilute ammonium chloride solutions can cause serious injury to the gastrointestinal tract and pulmonary systems, which can result in a complicated and prolonged hospitalization. Exposure by inhalation can cause irritation of the nose. The patient was subsequently transferred to the psychiatric ward on hospital day 22. Ammonia solutions are extremely corrosive and irritating to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. The patient gradually tolerated oral fluids and on hospital day 20 had her tracheostomy tube removed. An upper GI swallow study revealed poor esophageal motility in the mid- to lower third of the esophagus. The patient underwent tracheostomy on hospital day 6. Bedside bronchoscopy showed laryngeal edema and mucosal injury to the segmental level. She also developed bilateral pneumonias later in the hospital course. Hazard Description Ammonia is an irritant and corrosive to the skin, eyes, respiratory tract and mucous membranes. Her course was complicated by mild hypotension, nonanion gap metabolic acidosis, and oliguria treated successfully with intravenous (IV) fluids. Ammonia, Anhydrous: CAS Water: CAS Statement of Health Hazard.
Ammonia gas is flammable and has a narrow explosive range in air of 1525. With increasing temperature, more ammonia evaporates. Concentrated ammonium hydroxide contains approximately 29 ammonia and has a pungent odor. Only a small fraction actually exits as ionic NH 4+ and OH. Due to persistent cough, copious oral secretions, and worsening hoarseness, the patient was intubated and admitted to the ICU. Ammonium hydroxide is a solution of ammonia (NH 3) in water. An emergent endoscopy demonstrated a Grade 2b caustic injury in the esophagus and a Grade 3b injury in the stomach. Physical exam was remarkable for bilateral wheezing and epigastric tenderness. Initial complaints included nausea with a single episode of nonbilious, nonbloody emesis, mild shortness of breath, and chest and epigastric pain. A Beginner’s Guide to Ammonia : Uses and Safety Tips. One such bucket should be enough for 3-5 m of beds. spray the onion with the resulting solution. Therefore you need to add 20 mL of 25 ammonia to 80 mL of water to get 100 mL of 5 ammonia. Changing the proportions is not worth it, because if there is more substance, you can burn the root system of plants. Assuming you need 100 mL of 5 ammonia, V1 x 25 100 x 5. We present a case of an intentional ingestion of a dilute ammonium chloride solution resulting in significant morbidity.Ī 60-year-old woman with bipolar disorder presented one hour after an intentional ingestion of approximately 15 fluid ounces (500 mL) of an algae and odor humidifier treatment containing a total of 2.25% ethyl ammonium chloride. Answer (1 of 4): Depends on the final volume of 5 ammonia you require. Unintentional ingestions of dilute (<7.5%) cleaning solutions containing ammonium chloride typically do not cause serious harm.