Ammonia health effects

Table 8.3. Health Effects of Different Ammonia Concentrations...

This chapter reviews physical and chemical properties and toxicokinetic, toxicologic, and epidemiologic data on ammonia. The Subcommittee on Submarine Escape Action Levels used the information to assess health risk to Navy personnel aboard a disabled submarine and to evaluate the submarine escape action levels (SEALs) proposed to avert serious health effects and substantial degradation in crew performance from short-term exposures (up to 10 d). The subcommittee also identifies data gaps and research relevant for determining the health risk attributable to exposure to ammonia. 

On the basis of its review of human and experimental animal health-effects and related data, the subcommittee concludes that the Navy s proposed SEAL 1 of 25 ppm for ammonia is too conservative. The Navy s proposed SEAL 1 could be below the threshold for odor or perception for some crew members, and it is well below the concentrations shown consistently to cause minimal eye and throat irritation. The subcommittee recommends 75 ppm for SEAL 1. The... 

On the basis of its review of human and experimental animal health-effects and related data, the subcommittee concludes that the Navy s proposed SEAL 2 of 75 ppm for ammonia is too conservative. The subcommittee recommends a SEAL 2 of 125 ppm. This value is based on a controlled human study in which volunteers exposed to ammonia at 140 ppm experienced severe throat irritation and left the exposure chamber within 1.25 h, while volunteers exposed at 110 ppm reported eye and throat irritation but did not leave the exposure chamber for the duration of the experiment (2 h) (Verberk 1977). Ferguson et al. (1977) observed only transient irritation of the eyes and throat after extended exposures (2-6 h/d, 5 d/wk for 110 ppm), and there was no evidence that such exposure caused decreased pulmonary function or affected mental ability. The crew of a disabled submarine should be able to tolerate the irritant effects from exposure to ammonia at concentrations below 125 ppm for up to 24 h. 

The subcommittee recommends that additional research be conducted on the health effects of mixtures of the irritant gases—ammonia, chlorine, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide. The subcommittee also recommends additional studies be conducted on the combined effects of hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide. 

Existing Information on Health Effects of Ammonia and Ammonium Compounds... 

Estimates of exposure levels posing minimal risk to humans (Minimal Risk Levels or MRLs) have been made for ammonia. An MRL is defined as an estimate of daily human exposure to a substance that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of adverse effects (noncarcinogenic) over a specified duration of exposure. MRLs are derived when reliable and sufficient data exist to identify the target organ(s) of effect or the most sensitive health effect(s) for a specific duration within a given route of exposure. 

Section 104(i)(5) of CERCLA, as amended, directs the Administrator of ATSDR (in consultation with the Administrator of EPA and agencies and programs of the Public Health Service) to assess whether adequate information on the health effects of ammonia is available. Where adequate information is not available, ATSDR, in conjunction with the National Toxicology Program (NTP), is required to assure the initiation of a program of research designed to determine the health effects (and techniques for developing methods to determine such health effects) of ammonia. 

Table 3-5. Ongoing Studies on the Health Effects of Ammonia ...

EPA. 1979. Effects of endogenous ammonia on neutralization of inhaled sulfuric acid aerosols. Cininnatti, OH U S. Enviromnental Protection Agency, Health Effects Research Lab. EPA-600/1-79-045PB 80 147 978. 

Ryer-Powder JE. 1991. Health effects of ammonia. Plant/Oper Prog 10(4) 228-232. 

Swotinsky RB, Chase KH. 1990. Health effects of exposure to ammonia scant information. AmJInd Med 17(4) 515-521. 

There are many advantages to the use of NH3 as hydrogen source for vehicular fuel cell vehicle applications. However, a major drawback is ammonia s extreme toxicity and adverse health effects. By complexing NH3 with diborane, a stable, non-toxic and non-cryogenic material (H3BNH3) can be prepared. This ammonia-borane complex is stable in water and ambient air and when heated liberates H2 in a sequence of reactions between 137°C and 400°C that reaches about 20% of the initial mass of H3BNH3. Successfiil implementation of ammonia-borane as a potential future transportation fuel, however, requires new chemical techniques and/or processes for its s mthesis that promise substantial reduction in its production costs. 

Airborne particulate matter Emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and ammonia contribute to airborne particulate matter and associated health effects http //w w w.epa. gov/air/ urbanair/pm/index.html... 

As a water disinfectant, chlorine dioxide does not chlorinate or oxidize ammonia or other nitrogen-containing compounds. Some concern has been raised possible health effects of its main degradation byproducts, C102 ... 

The metabolism and pharmacokinetics of ammonia as well as the health effects of chronic, subchronic and acute exposure to ammonia is discussed in [81]. It is concluded that due to its chemical properties and interactions within the respiratory tract ammonia does not have the potential to cause chronic damage from long term, low level exposure. 

Even though carpet emissions have been declared to produce no adverse health effects, the issue of new carpet odor had to be addressed. As a result, the SBLC member companies have reduced VOC emissions by 95 % since 1988. With present low VOC latex and proper drying technique, carpet manufacturers today can produce odor free carpet. As weU as creating an odor free environment for the carpet consumer by reducing VOCs, the trend toward ammonia free latex is also creating a more worker friendly environment in the manufacturing site. 

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