Acute Management Overview
Agent Identification
- At room temperature, anhydrous ammonia is a colorless, highly irritating gas with a pungent, suffocating odor. It is lighter than air and flammable, with difficulty, at high concentrations and temperatures. It is easily compressed and forms a clear, colorless liquid under pressure. Ammonia dissolves readily in water to form ammonium hydroxide – an alkaline solution. The concentration of aqueous ammonia solutions for household use is typically 5% to 10% (weight:volume), but solutions for commercial use may be 25% (weight:volume) or more, and are corrosive. Anhydrous ammonia is stored and shipped in pressurized containers, fitted with pressure-relief safety devices, and bears the label “Nonflammable Compressed Gas”. Despite not meeting the Department of Transport definition of flammable it should be treated as such.
- Anhydrous ammonia reacts with moisture in the mucous membranes to produce an alkaline solution (ammonium hydroxide). Exposure to ammonia gas or ammonium hydroxide can result in corrosive injury to the mucous membranes of the eyes, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract and to the skin due to the alkaline pH and the hygroscopic nature of ammonia.
- Responders should obtain assistance in identifying the chemical(s) from container shapes, placards, labels, shipping papers, and analytical tests. General information on these identification techniques is located in the Emergency Response Guidebook.
- Identification Tools
- Devices
- A comprehensive source for the selection of chemical identification equipment is the Guide for the Selection of Chemical Detection Equipment for Emergency First Responders, Guide 100-06, January 2007, 3rd Edition published by the Department of Homeland Security.
Rescuer Protection
- Respiratory and Skin Protection: Positive-pressure-demand, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) level A is recommended in response situations that involve exposure to potentially unsafe levels of ammonia liquid or vapor.
- PPE Required – Level A
- Respiratory Protection: Positive-pressure, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) is recommended in response situations that involve exposure to potentially unsafe levels of ammonia.
- Skin Protection: Chemical-protective clothing is recommended because of the potential of inflammatory and corrosive effects.
- Level A – protective clothing is the highest level of protection. Level A includes a Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) with a fully encapsulating vapor tight suit with gloves and booties attached to the suit (tanks last from 1/2 hour to 1 hour).
- Link to reference section for acute event PPE related safety information
Ammonia Specific Triage
The following exposed persons should be evaluated at a medical facility:
- Symptomatic patients complaining of persistent shortness of breath, severe cough, or chest tightness should be admitted to the hospital and observed until symptom-free. Pulmonary injury may progress for several hours.
- Those who have eye or skin burns that cover a large surface area.
- Those who have ingested ammonia.
Patient Release
- In a mass casualty situation, asymptomatic patients who are reliable historians and those who experienced only minor sensations of burning of the nose, throat, eyes, and respiratory tract (with perhaps a slight cough) may be released. In most instances, these patients will be free of symptoms in an hour or less. They should be advised to seek medical care promptly if symptoms develop or recur.
- If the treater feels that the patient has been exposed to a significant amount of ammonia, despite a relatively benign clinical appearance, or if the incident involved a small number of patients, or the victims included young kids (especially infants or patients with special needs), they should be monitored in an ED “extended care” area for 6-12 hrs).
Decontamination
- Victims exposed only to ammonia gas do not pose substantial risks of secondary contamination to personnel outside the Hot Zone.
- Victims whose clothing or skin is contaminated with liquid ammonium hydroxide can secondarily contaminate response personnel by direct contact or through off-gassing ammonia vapor.
- Link to prehospital management section.
Route of Exposure
- Inhalation
- Skin/Eye Contact
- Ingestion
Clinical Signs and Symptoms
- Respiratory – the extent of injury produced by exposure to ammonia depends on the duration of the exposure, the concentration of the gas, and the depth of inhalation. Even fairly low airborne concentrations (50 ppm) of ammonia produce rapid onset of eye, nose, and throat irritation; coughing; and narrowing of the bronchi. More severe clinical signs include immediate narrowing of the throat and swelling, causing upper airway obstruction and accumulation of fluid in the lungs. This may result in low blood oxygen levels and an altered mental status. Mucosal burns to the tracheobronchial tree can also occur. Immediate onset of laryngospasm with respiratory arrest can occur.
- Dermal – dilute aqueous solutions (less than 5%) rarely cause serious burns but can be moderately irritating. Exposure to concentrated vapor or solution can cause pain, inflammation, blisters, necrosis and deep penetrating burns, especially on moist skin areas. Skin contact with compressed, liquid ammonia (which is stored at -28 °F) causes frostbite injury, and may also result in severe burns with deep ulcerations.
- Ocular – ammonia has a greater tendency to penetrate and damage the eyes than does any other alkali. Even low concentrations of ammonia vapor (100 ppm) produce rapid onset of eye irritation. Contact with high concentrations of the gas, or with concentrated ammonium hydroxide, may cause swelling and sloughing of the surface cells of the eye, which may result in temporary or permanent blindness.
- Gastrointestinal – nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain are common symptoms following ingestion of ammonia. Ingestion of household ammonia (5-10%) has resulted in severe esophageal burns. Esophageal pain with swallowing, drooling and refusal of food suggest a more significant injury. Substernal chest pain, abdominal pain and rigidity suggest profound injury and potential perforation of the esophagus and/or stomach.
- Link to Toxic Syndromes
- Link to Primary and Secondary Survey
Differential Diagnosis
- Phosgene is distinguished by its smell in high concentrations and delayed onset of pulmonary edema.
- Riot agents cause an acute onset of burning sensation in the eyes and upper airway without progression of symptoms. Riot agents do not cause laryngospasm except in hugh doses and patients never develop symptoms of peripheral pulmonary edema.
- Nerve agents induce watery secretions as well as respiratory distress, but have a host of other symptoms, such as miosis, seizures, rapidity of onset, that can distinguish them from pulmonary agents.
- The respiratory toxicity of vesicants (i.e. mustard) is usually delayed but affects the central rather than the peripheral airway. Vesicant toxicity severe enough to cause dyspnea typically causes airway necrosis often with upper airway obstruction.
- Link to Chemical Hazards Emergency Medical Management Intelligent Syndromes Tool (CHEMM-IST)
Treatment
- Treatment is supportive – there are no specific antidotes for ammonia.
- Link to Prehospital Management
- Link to Basic and Advanced Life Support
- Link to Pediatric Basic and Advanced Life Support
- Link to Key Acute Care Adult Medications section
- Link to
- Link to Primary and Secondary Survey
