AMMONIA Incident Management v4
AMMONIA Incident Management v4
AMMONIA Incident Management v4
Incident management
Key Points
Fire
Anhydrous ammonia is non flammable. Ammonia vapour in air is flammable and may
explode when ignited
Chemically stable under normal conditions
Emits toxic fumes of ammonia and oxides of nitrogen when heated to decomposition
In the event of a fire involving ammonia, use fine water spray and liquid-tight
protective clothing with breathing apparatus
Health
Exposure by any route may be dangerous
Secondary contamination may occur
CHIP Classification: toxic and corrosive
Inhalation causes irritation of the eyes and nose with sore throat, cough, chest
tightness, headache, tachycardia and confusion. Pulmonary oedema may take up to
36 hours to develop
Ingestion causes immediate burning of the mouth and throat, drooling, difficulty
swallowing, abdominal pain, vomiting and haematemesis. Haemorrhagic or
hypovolaemic shock and airway obstruction from laryngeal and/or epiglottic oedema
are features of severe cases.
Dermal exposure causes deep, full thickness burns
Ocular exposure causes pain, blepharospasm, lacrimation, conjunctivitis, palpebral
oedema and photophobia. In severe cases corneal burns, glaucoma and cataracts
may occur
Environment
Dangerous for the environment
Inform Environment Agency of substantial release incidents
Prepared by J D Pritchard
CRCE HQ, HPA
2011
Version 4
AMMONIA – INCIDENT MANAGEMENT
Hazard Identification
Standard (UK) Dangerous Goods Emergency Action Codes(a)
Hazards
Sub
8 Corrosive substance
risks
Sub
-
risks
HIN 20 Asphyxiant gas or gas with no subsidiary risk
UN – United Nations number; EAC – Emergency Action Code; APP – Additional Personal
Protection; HIN - Hazard Identification Number
a
Dangerous Goods Emergency Action Code List, HM Fire Service Inspectorate, Publications Section,
The Stationery Office, 2009.
Sub
-
risks
HIN 80 Corrosive or slightly corrosive substance
Hazards
Sub
8 Corrosive substance
risks
* Liquid-tight chemical protective clothing (BS 8428) in combination with self-contained open circuit
positive pressure compressed air breathing apparatus (BS EN 137).
**
People should stay indoors with windows and doors closed, ignition sources should be eliminated
and ventilation stopped. Non-essential personnel should move at least 250 m away from the incident.
***
Gas-tight chemical protective clothing (BS EN 943) in combination with self-contained open circuit
positive pressure compressed air breathing apparatus (BS EN 137).
a
Dangerous Goods Emergency Action Code List, The Stationery Office, 2009.
Ammonia, anhydrous
F Flammable
T Toxic
Classification
C Corrosive
R10 Flammable
R23 Toxic by inhalation
Risk phrases
R34 Causes burns
R50 Very toxic to aquatic organisms
S(1/2) Keep locked up out of the reach of children
S9 Keep container in a well ventilated place
S16 Keep away from sources of ignition- No smoking
In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of
S26
water and seek medical advice
Safety phrases
Wear suitable protective clothing, gloves and eye/face
S36/37/39
protection
In case of accident or if you feel unwell seek medical advice
S45
immediately (show the label where possible)
Avoid release to the environment. Refer to special
S61
instructions / safety data sheet
a
Annex VI to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of
Substances and Mixtures- Table 3.2.
http://esis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/index.php?PGM=cla (accessed 11/2011)
Ammonia… %
C Corrosive
Classification
Concentration Classification
C ≥ 10 % C; R34
5 % ≤ C < 10 % Xi; R36/37/38
Ammonia, anhydrous
Skin Corr.
Skin corrosion, categories 1B
1B
a
Annex VI to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of
Substances and Mixtures- Table 3.1.
http://esis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/index.php?PGM=cla (accessed 11/2011)
Ammonia… %
Skin Corr.
Skin corrosion, categories 1B
1B
Hazard Class
and Category
Physicochemical Properties
Molecular weight 17
Reaction or degradation Emits toxic fumes of ammonia and oxides of nitrogen when
products heated to decomposition
H
Structure
N
H H
References(a,b,c)
a
Ammonia (HAZARDTEXT® Hazard Management). In: Klasco RK (Ed): TOMES® System. Thomson
Micromedex, Greenwood Village, Colorado (accessed 08/2010).
b
The Merck Index (14th Edition). Entry 492: ammonia, 2006.
c
The Dictionary of Substances and their Effects. Ed. S Gangolli. Second Edition, Volume 1, 1999.
a
International Programme on Chemical Safety, Environmental Health Criteria 54: Ammonia, 1986.
* Maximum airborne concentration below which it is believed that nearly all individuals could be
exposed for up to 1 hr without experiencing other than mild transient adverse health effects or
perceiving a clearly defined, objectionable odour.
** Maximum airborne concentration below which it is believed that nearly all individuals could be
exposed for up to 1 hr without experiencing or developing irreversible or other serious health effects or
symptoms which could impair an individual's ability to take protective action.
*** Maximum airborne concentration below which it is believed that nearly all individuals could be
exposed for up to 1 hr without experiencing or developing life-threatening health effects.
^ Odour should be detectable near ERPG-1.
ppm
10 min 30 min 60 min 4 hr 8 hr
AEGL-1† 30 30 30 30 30
AEGL-2†† 220 220 160 110 110
AEGL-3††† 2700 1600 1100 550 390
†
The level of the chemical in air at or above which the general population could experience notable
discomfort.
††
The level of the chemical in air at or above which there may be irreversible or other serious long-
lasting effects or impaired ability to escape.
†††
The level of the chemical in air at or above which the general population could experience life-
threatening health effects or death.
a
American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). Emergency Response Planning Guideline Values
and Workplace Environmental Exposure Level Guides Handbook, Fairfax, VA, 2010.
b
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Acute Exposure Guideline Levels,
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/aegl/pubs/chemlist.htm (accessed 01/2011).
Occupational standards
DRINKING
0.5 mg L-1 as NH4
WATER QUALITY GUIDELINE (b)
WEL – Workplace exposure limit; LTEL - Long-term exposure limit; STEL – Short-term
exposure limit
a
List of approved workplace exposure limits (as consolidated with amendments October 2007).
http://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/table1.pdf (An update to EH40/2005: Workplace Exposure Limits 2005.
The Stationery Office, London) (accessed 01/2011).
b
The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000 (England) and the Water Supply (Water Quality
Regulations 2001 (Wales) (accessed 01/2011).
Health Effects
Inhalation causes irritation of eyes and nose with sore throat, cough, chest tightness,
headache, fever, wheeze, tachycardia and confusion. Chemical pneumonitis,
tachypnoea, dyspnoea and stridor due to laryngeal oedema may follow. Pulmonary
oedema with increasing breathlessness, wheeze, hypoxia and cyanosis may take up
to 36h to develop. Optic neuropathy has been reported following both acute and
chronic inhalation.
Ingestion can cause immediate pain with burning in the mouth, throat and
stomach. This may be followed by abdominal pain, vomiting, haematemesis and
dyspnoea. Pain and oedema may make swallowing difficult, causing drooling.
Haemorrhagic or hypovolaemic shock and airway obstruction from laryngeal and/or
epiglottic oedema are features of severe cases. Stridor and respiratory complications
(including pneumonitis, pulmonary oedema, ARDS and pulmonary necrosis) can
develop following aspiration of corrosive materials. Alkalis often damage the
oesophagus. However, ingestion of large volumes can also involve the stomach and
small intestines. Ulceration may be sufficiently severe to cause perforation with
complications including mediastinitis, pneumonitis and cardiac injury. The depths of
the burns are usually much greater with alkalis, and may continue to develop some
time after exposure.
Systemic features may include circulatory collapse, metabolic acidosis, hypoxia,
respiratory failure, acute renal failure, haemolysis and disseminated intravascular
coagulation (DIC).
Dermal exposure causes direct damage to tissues by the saponification of fats. This
causes liquefaction burns and necrosis with a softening of the tissues which can
further lead to deep tissue penetration and full thickness burns.
Ocular exposure causes pain, blepharospasm, lacrimation, conjunctivitis, palpebral
oedema and photophobia. Alkaline solutions may cause corneal burns and may
penetrate all layers of the eye and find their way into the chambers causing iritis,
anterior and posterior synechia, corneal opacification, cataracts, glaucoma and retinal
atrophy.
Important Notes
Dermal Exposure(a,b)
Ocular Exposure(c)
Inhalation(d)
Ingestion(a)
This document will be reviewed not later than 3 years or sooner if substantive evidence becomes
available.
a
TOXBASE: Corrosives – ingestion, 07/2010.