- According to The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry,  you may be exposed to ammonia while using household products that contain ammonia.  Some of these products are ammonia-cleaning solutions, window cleaners, floor waxes, and smelling salts.
Household and industrial cleaning solutions may contain ammonia, and use of these products at home or work may lead to exposure to ammonia. Both types of ammonia cleaning solutions are made by adding ammonia gas to water to form liquid ammonia. Household ammonia cleaners typically contain lower levels of ammonia (between 5 and 10%) compared to industrial cleaning solutions, which can contain higher levels of ammonia (up to 25%). Â Ammonia is a corrosive substance and the main toxic effects are restricted to the sites of direct contact with ammonia (i.e., skin, eyes, respiratory tract, mouth, and digestive tract). For example, if you spilled a bottle of concentrated ammonia on the floor, you would smell a strong ammonia odor; you might cough, and your eyes might water because of irritation. If you were exposed to very high levels of ammonia, you would experience more harmful effects. For example, if you walked into a dense cloud of ammonia or if your skin comes in contact with concentrated ammonia, your skin, eyes, throat, or lungs may be severely burned. These burns might be serious enough to cause permanent blindness, lung disease, or death. Likewise, if you accidentally ate or drank concentrated ammonia, you might experience burns in your mouth, throat, and stomach. For more information, visit (http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs126.html)
Ammonia is also a lung and skin irritant. If mixed with chlorine, it releases toxic chloramine gas. Short-term exposure to chloramine gas may cause coughing, choking, and lung damage. Asthmatics may be particularly vulnerable to asthma and cholramine fumes. (Source: Children’s Health Environmental Coalition)
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