Medicine
Volume 35, Issue 11 , Pages 583-584, November 2007

Ammonia

Jan Meulenbelt MD PhD is a Consultant Physician at the University Medical Centre, Utrecht, the Netherlands. He is officially registered as internist, intensivist and toxicologist. He is also Director of the National Poisons Information Centre, Bilthoven, the Netherlands. Competing interests: none declared

Abstract 

Ammonia is a frequently used industrial agent. Ammonia is highly soluble in water and has toxic and corrosive actions caused by its alkalinity. It is easily absorbed through mucous membranes. Ammonia affects the upper airways more than the peripheral airways. Following exposure to ammonia, the clinical symptoms appear instantly and may consist of nasal discharge, lacrimation, pain in the upper airways, dyspnoea, bronchospasm, bronchial oedema, glottis oedema, increased mucus production, haemoptysis and cyanosis. Ingestion of ammonia water induces caustic lesions in the oropharynx, oesophagus and stomach. Liquid ammonia is corrosive. Evaporation of liquid ammonia from the eye or skin may cause cold burns.

Keywords: acute lung injury (ALI), ammonia, bronchospasms, cold burns, corrosive agent, lacrimation, oesophagus injury, respiratory failure, stomach injury

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PII: S1357-3039(07)00271-X

doi:10.1016/j.mpmed.2007.08.004

Medicine
Volume 35, Issue 11 , Pages 583-584, November 2007

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