Toxicity Chlorine and
Anhydrous Ammonia
March 20, 2014
Agenda
• Physical Properties Chlorine/Anhydrous
Ammonia
• Toxicity of Chlorine/Anhydrous Ammonia
• Short Term Effects Chlorine/Anhydrous
Ammonia
• First Aid Chlorine/Anhydrous Ammonia
Chlorine Information
Physical Properties Chlorine
Is a gas at atmospheric pressure
Is greenish yellow gas
Is a gas and a liquid under pressure
The gas is heavier than air (will sink when
released from a container at atmospheric
pressure)
• Strong odor (bleach on steroids)
•
•
•
•
Toxicity of Chlorine
• Routes of entry into body:
– Inhalation, skin eyes
• Targeted organs:
– Eyes, Skin, Lungs, Respiratory Tract
• Irritancy:
– Skin, Eyes, Respiratory Tract, Severe
• Sensitizing Capability:
– None Known
Toxicity of Chlorine
• Reproductive Effects:
– None known
• Cancer Information:
– Not known to be carcinogenic
– Just lethal
Toxicity Chlorine
• 0.2 – 0.5 ppm
• 1.0 – 3.0 ppm
No L-T effect
Definite odor
• 5.0 – 8.0 ppm
• 30 ppm
• 34.0 54.0 ppm
Irritation eyes, throat & mm
Intense coughing fits
Lethal in 1 to 1.5 hours
Toxicity Chlorine
• 40 – 60 ppm
• 100 ppm
• 430 ppm
• 1000 ppm
30/60 minute exposure
pulmonary edema
Maybe lethal in 50 minutes
Lowest concentration lethal in
30 minutes
Maybe lethal in a few deep
breaths
Short-Term Exposure
• Inhalation:
– Coughing, burning, chest pain, vomiting
• Eyes:
– High concentrations or contact can cause burns
• Skin:
– May cause burns
– Liquid can cause freeze burns
• Ingestion:
– Not a likely route to exposure
First Aid
• Eyes:
– Immediately flush with large quantities of water
for 15 minutes, get medical attention
• Skin:
– Check inhalation effects first, then keep airway
open, flush with large quantities of water for 15
minute, get medical attention
First Aid
• Inhalation:
– Remove to fresh air, have trained professional
administer oxygen, get medical attention
• Ingestion:
– If swallowed, induce vomiting, give large quantities of
water, get medical attention
• Notes to Physician:
– There is not known antidote for chlorine inhalation,
effective and immediate relief of symptoms is the
primary goal
Anhydrous Ammonia Information
Physical Properties Anhydrous
Ammonia
Is a gas at atmospheric pressure
Is a colorless gas
Is a gas and a liquid under pressure
The gas is lighter than air (will raise when
released from a container at atmospheric
pressure)
• Strong odor
•
•
•
•
Recognizing Ammonia
• The most recognizable
property of ammonia
is:
Smell
• Ammonia’s strong,
pungent and irritating
smell gives early and
positive warning that
ammonia is present.
Rule of Exposure
•
•
•
•
5 ppm - You can smell it.
25 ppm - It can harm you – Long Term Exposure CA.
300 ppm - IDLH – Immediate Danger to Life & Health
5,000 ppm - It can kill you
BASIC RULE:
If you can smell ammonia – be concerned, move out of the ammonia
cloud as soon as possible and immediately notify others.
Recognize How an Ammonia Vapor
Release Might Look
• Ammonia Vapor
– Lighter than air
– May be colorless as below
– May have a visible cloud as below
Ammonia Characteristics
• Anhydrous = without water
• Pungent, colorless gas
• Stored as liquid under pressure
(or refrigerated)
• DOT: Non-flammable compressed gas
• Ammonia UN identification number is 1005
– This number identifies ammonia on shipping
documents and vehicles as hazardous, and
references information from DOT Emergency
Response Guide.
• Pressure varies greatly with temperature
-40˚ F = 8.7 hg
+50˚ F = 75 psig
+90˚ F = 165 psig
Ammonia Characteristics
• Ammonia is sensitive to pressure
and temperature
– A small volume of liquid anhydrous
ammonia will produce a large volume
of gas at atmospheric pressure.
• Ammonia has a limited flammability
range
– 15-28% in air generally found only in
confined space.
• Ammonia has a very strong affinity
for water.
– 1 gallon of water will absorb 1,300
gallons of ammonia vapor by volume.
Ammonia Loves Water
This is BAD because :
• NH3 attacks the moist
areas of the body
• The body is mostly
water
• The eye is 90% water
• Exposure can result in
immediate eye damage
Water - First Aid for Ammonia
• Large quantities of water (15 minutes of
continued flushing) are recommended for
washing contaminated skin areas or for eye
contact.
• RULE: For an eye
exposed to Ammonia,
hold the eyelid open
and wash for 15
minutes with water
First Aid Treatment for Ammonia
INHALATION:
1. Remove from
exposure.
2. Administer artificial
respiration or
oxygen if breathing
has stopped.
3. Seek medical aid.
First Aid Treatment for Ammonia
SKIN CONTACT:
1.Immediately flush
with large
quantities of water
and continue for
15 minutes. Do not
remove clothing if
frozen to skin.
2.Seek medical aid.
First Aid Treatment for Ammonia
EYE CONTACT:
1.Immediately flush
with large quantities
of water. Continue
for 15 minutes.
2.Seek medical aid.
First Aid Treatment for Ammonia
INGESTION:
1.Do NOT induce
vomiting. Give 1-2
glasses of milk or
water.
2.Seek medical aid.
Summary
• Chlorine/Anhydrous ammonia are very useful
and very dangerous chemicals
• Familiarize yourself with the hazards and first
aid procedure of both chemicals
• Know your surroundings and look for wind
soxs
• Work safe