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How to act in the event of an ammonia leak emergency?

Ammonia is a colorless gas with a characteristic pungent odor and pungent taste. It is almost two times lighter than air.

Under normal conditions, ammonia easily liquefies under pressure, and during evaporation, it absorbs heat and cools down a lot. This property is used in industrial and household refrigerators at meat processing plants, dairies, vegetable bases — that is, where there is a need for chilled products. In addition, ammonia is a raw material for many chemical industries — in particular, nitric acid and nitrogen fertilizers. Recently, liquefied ammonia and aqueous ammonia have become widely used directly as a nitrogen fertilizer.

Store and transport this substance in a liquid state.

As a liquid, ammonia is lighter than water, has a lower density and forms a faint smoke in the air. Flammable, forms explosive mixtures with air, poisonous. Especially dangerous for eyes.

What are the main symptoms of ammonia poisoning?

severe cough and shortness of breath;

· a cut in the eyes;

· violation of pulse frequency;

· redness of the skin;

· irritation of mucous membranes and skin.

After contact with liquid ammonia, frostbite occurs, burns with blisters, ulcers are possible

What to do in case of ammonia poisoning?

Take the victim to fresh air;

Allow to breathe humidified air (warm water vapor of a 10% solution of menthol in chloroform);

Wash skin, mucous membranes and eyes with water or 2% boric acid solution for at least 15 minutes;

Put two or three drops of 30% albucid in the eyes;

Lubricate the nose with olive or vaseline oil;

Give the victim warm milk with "Borjomi" or baking soda;

In case of a spasm of the vocal folds, it is necessary to warm the neck area, take warm baths, inhalation;

In case of damage to the skin, wash it with clean water, make lotions from a 5% solution of acetic, citric or hydrochloric acid.

What to do if there is an ammonia smell?

It is necessary to leave the infection zone perpendicular to the direction of the wind;

Protect the respiratory organs with a gas mask or a cotton-gauze bandage, a towel or other cotton fabric, folded several times, pre-wetting it with a 2% solution of citric or acetic acid or water;