Most people know about household cleaners with ammonia, and maybe you’ve heard of ammonia cooling system applications. In fact, ammonia has many commercial uses today but can present hazards. Here are some facts you need to know.
What is Ammonia?
Ammonia contains nitrogen and hydrogen. Its chemical name is NH3, and it’s sometimes called azane. An azane is a material made from atoms of hydrogen or nitrogen. When NH3 is at room temperature, it’s a clear gas, and liquid ammonia evaporates quickly. You can’t see it, but its unmistakable odor is easy to detect. NH3 gas is an irritant, and it’s toxic, which means it’s harmful if you come into contact with it.
Uses
Most NH3 sees use in fertilizers for agriculture. In fact, this makes up about 80 percent of the product on the market today. However, NH3 is a very effective refrigerant, and many large-scale businesses use ammonia cooling system applications. This includes food and beverage processing businesses.
NH3 readily absorbs water, and diluted solutions make excellent cleaning agents. In fact, many household cleaners have as little as five percent NH3. Commercial and industrial cleaning companies use stronger NH3 solutions for difficult cleaning tasks.
Health Effects
NH3 is toxic when inhaled, ingested, or when it contacts the skin. For example:
* Inhalation – NH3 can burn nasal passages, throat, and lungs. Prolonged exposure to strong concentrations creates pulmonary edema and makes breathing difficult. Even weak concentrations cause coughing and respiratory irritation.
* Contact – skin, and eyes are easily affected by NH3 concentrations in the air. Strong concentrations can create skin burns and serious eye damage.
* Ingestion – damage to the mouth, throat, and stomach is sometimes severe.
Protection
With NH3 applications, it’s important to adhere to all the safety rules. Contact ammonia cooling system professionals if your business needs repairs or maintenance.
