Ammonia leak: The dangers and health effects of ammonia exposure
On Wednesday, February 3, residents of a slum area in Navotas behind the T.P. Marcelo Ice Plant and Cold Storage had to evacuate after an ammonia leak at the facility.
An ammonia leak happened in an ice plant in Navotas / Source: GMA News
Due to the intense smell of ammonia that leaked from the ice plant, residents were forced to leave their homes and move to a safe location until the leak was contained.
Residents experienced pain in the eyes, difficulty breathing, headache, fainting, and vomiting.
Some of the pets that were left behind reportedly started foaming at the mouth.
So far, 96 individuals were hurt and rushed to the hospital and two fatalities have been reported, both of them are employees of the said ice plant.
The ammonia leak was contained by fire responders around two hours before midnight and residents have been given the go signal to return to their homes.
The ice plant, owned by Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco's mother and her siblings, had already extended financial assistance to the victims, and the city government will also conduct counselling for those who were traumatized by the incident.
The investigation by the Bureau of Fire Protection is still ongoing so the official cause of the leak has yet to be determined.
However, in one of the videos recorded by the residents while evacuating, one of them said that something “exploded,” thereby causing the ammonia leak.
But what exactly is ammonia and why is it used in ice plants? When is exposure to it fatal and what should you do in case of an ammonia leak? Read on to find out.
Ammonia in Refrigeration
The chemical ammonia is often used in refrigeration systems in most large freezing and refrigeration plants. It is also called “anhydrous ammonia” because it is 99.98% pure, meaning it contains almost no water.
Its cooling mechanism involves absorption of heat from one area and moving it to another to dissipate.
It is said to be less expensive and 3-10% more efficient than CFCs. Plus, it is also eco-friendly since it does not cause harm to the ozone layer.
The dangers of ammonia exposure
Ammonia is stored in closed pressurized containers, so leaks can occur when there are broken pipes and equipment.
Exposure to ammonia can be poisonous in high concentrations. The National Center for Biotechnology Information in the U.S. says that being exposed to concentrations of 2,500 to 4,500 parts per million (ppm) for approximately 30 minutes can be fatal, and exposure to concentrations above 5,000 ppm often induces rapid respiratory arrest.
Below are some of the minor health effects of ammonia exposure:
1. Coughing
2. Nose and throat irritation
3. Skin and eye irritation
4. Difficulty breathing
5. Headache
6. Vomiting
7. Fainting
And these are the more serious and potentially fatal effects of ammonia exposure:
1. Burning of nose, throat, and respiratory tract (when inhaled)
2. Pulmonary congestion
3. Bronchiolar and alveolar edema
4. Airway destruction resulting in respiratory distress or failure
5. Skin burns (due to contact with concentrated ammonia)
6. Permanent eye damage
7. Blindness
8. Corrosive damage to the mouth, throat and stomach (when ingested)
First aid for ammonia exposure
Decontaminating the victim immediately is of utmost importance to prevent more serious health effects from occurring. Every second counts!
1. Flush the eyes with clean water. Do this for a minimum of 15 minutes if the eyes have had contact to ammonia.
2. Wash all areas that have been possibly exposed to ammonia, including hair, ears, under chin, and armpits. If ammonia got spilled on a worker, it's important to shower right away while still clothed to remove the ammonia, as it can cause the clothes to freeze to the victim's skin.
3. If ammonia is ingested, call a doctor right away and let the victim drink large amounts of water. If the victim is vomiting, place his or her head down lower than the hips to prevent vomit from getting inside the lungs.
4. If ammonia is inhaled, take the victim to a clean, uncontaminated area right away and observe for symptoms. For those who have inhaled higher concentrations, call a doctor immediately and if there's a trained and authorized person to do so, administer oxygen to the victim. Also, keep the victim warm (but not hot) while on the way to the hospital.
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