Ammonia is a colorless gas with a very sharp odor. It can be man-made or occur naturally. The odor is common to most people because ammonia is used in smelling salts, household cleaners and window cleaning products.

You can be exposed to high levels of ammonia by breathing in contaminated air from leaks and spills at various production plants, tank trucks, pipelines, rail cars and storage facilities. You can

also be exposed if you use cleaning products at home, apply ammonia fertilizers or live near farms where these fertilizers have been applied.

If ammonia is spilled on the skin, it may cause burns. If you consume ammonia, you may suffer burns in your mouth, throat and stomach, which could lead to death. If you breathe in large amounts of ammonia, you may have severe burns in your skin, eyes, throat, and lungs. If you breathe in lower amounts, you will have coughing and nose and throat irritation. In extreme cases, blindness, lung damage, or death could occur.

You can reduce your risk of contact to ammonia by carefully using household products. Avoid areas where ammonia is used or produced. You should wear proper clothing and eye protection, because ammonia can cause skin burns and damage eyes if it is splashed on them. If you have children, tell them to stay out of the room when you are using ammonia.

If you think you have been exposed to ammonia, there are tests that can detect ammonia in your blood and urine. However, these tests cannot definitely determine if you have been exposed because ammonia is normally found in the body. If you are exposed to large amounts of ammonia, call 911 for medical attention right away. Do not drive yourself to the hospital as you may become very ill on your way.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)