How long should you rinse your skin after exposure to ammonia?

Update Date: 2024-05-27 Source: Network

Ammonia is a stimulating chemical, but it is often used in daily life. As a detergent and disinfectant, ammonia is a good choice. However, it can cause great harm to skin and mucous membranes. If ammonia contacts the skin, it is necessary to rinse it immediately with clean water to prevent any major impact on the skin. So, how long should you rinse your skin after contact with ammonia? Let's take a look.

1. How long should you rinse your skin after contact with ammonia?

If your skin contacts ammonia and feels irritation, you should rinse it with clean water for more than 15 minutes. If your eyes contact ammonia and feel discomfort, you should rinse them with clean water or physiological saline for more than 20 minutes. If there is no discomfort, you do not need to rinse it. Ammonia is a colorless gas with a strong irritating odor. Contact with it may cause burns to the skin and respiratory mucous membranes. Excessive inhalation can even lead to lung swelling and death. If you feel discomfort in your eyes after contact with ammonia, you should rinse them with clean water or physiological saline for more than 20 minutes in time. If you contact ammonia and feel discomfort on your skin, you should rinse it with clean water for more than 15 minutes. However, if you do not feel strong discomfort after contact with ammonia, you do not need to rinse it. It should be noted that if you contact ammonia while wearing contact lenses, you should remove them as soon as possible.

2. What are the harms of ammonia to human body?

Ammonia is a stimulating substance that poses significant hazards to human skin. It is easily soluble, so the emitted gas has a strong stimulating effect on the respiratory tract, leading to inflammation. Ammonia is generally inhaled into the body in the form of gas. After entering the respiratory tract, it can invade the blood through the alveoli and bind with hemoglobin, disrupting the oxygen transport function. Part of the ammonia invading the alveoli neutralizes with carbon dioxide, while the remaining part is absorbed by the blood and eventually excreted through urine and sweat. Long-term exposure to ammonia can cause finger ulcers or skin discoloration. If a large amount of ammonia is inhaled, it can lead to symptoms such as difficulty breathing, headache, and chest tightness.