Biological effects of short, high-level exposure to gases: ammonia. Phase report, May 1979-May 1980

Technical Report · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:5818512

Legters, L J

This report presents an analysis and synthesis of the available literature concerned with possible health and performance effects of exposures to ammonia. The US Army's concern is with short, high-level exposures that may exceed present threshold limit values of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (25 ppm or 17 mg/cum as a TWA and a ceiling of 35 ppm or 24 mg/cum for 15 minutes). The organs primarily affected by exposure to ammonia gas are the respiratory tract and the eyes. During brief exposures to concentrations of 500 ppm (348 mg/cum) or less, the biologic responses are immediate, reversible, and mainly irritant. Below 50 ppm (35 mg/cum), there are no significant effects except that the odor of ammonia is detectable. Between 50-100 ppm (35-70 mg/cum), most people experience some degree of irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. There is some evidence indicating that personnel may become acclimated to the irritant effects after only 1 or 2 weeks of inhalation.

• Research Organization: Enviro Control, Inc., Rockville, MD (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5818512
• Report Number(s): AD-A-094501
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACUTE EXPOSURE
AMMONIA
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
BODY AREAS
EYES
FACE
FLUIDS
GASES
HEAD
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LABORATORY ANIMALS
MATERIALS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
ORGANS
PERSONNEL
RESPIRATION
SENSE ORGANS
TOXIC MATERIALS