home Endocrinology Symptoms of ammonia poisoning. Ammonia poisoning

Symptoms of ammonia poisoning. Ammonia poisoning

Ammonia is a colorless gas with a pungent odor. It cannot be confused with any other. This gas is one of the most important compounds that make up nitrogen, a component that forms the basis of life.

Gaseous base

The use of this substance is due to its specific properties. It is used in the production of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and explosives. In liquid form it is used as a solvent. And as a refrigerant it is used in refrigeration technology. In dry mortars, classified as accelerators, ammonia is used as an antifreeze additive.

It is very widely used in medicine, as a disinfectant, inhalant, etc.

Biological significance

Ammonia is final product nitrogen metabolism in a living organism. It is obtained during the process of metabolism of proteins, amino acids and nitrogen-containing compounds.

It is very toxic to a living organism. Therefore, a good half of ammonia during enzymatic cycles is converted by the liver into carbamide (urea), a less toxic compound.

The latter is excreted from the body by the kidneys. In this case, some of it can be converted by the liver or kidneys back into ammonia.

Ammonia, having reducing properties, is used by the liver for resynthesis ( reverse process) amino acids from it.

Ammonia plays a significant role in maintaining acid-base balance in blood.

Possibility of intoxication

Highly concentrated gas can cause ammonia poisoning if exposed for long periods of time. The mechanism of toxemia is directly related to its alkaline properties. It is capable of corroding tissues and mucous membranes.

Pathways of toxemia

There are three options for possible ammonia poisoning:

by inhalation;
upon contact with skin;
upon contact with the mucous membrane of the eye.

In practice, oral ammonia poisoning and inhalation gas poisoning are common.

At-risk groups

Anyone can get ammonia poisoning if they do not follow the instructions for use. However, there are categories of people most at risk:

working in enterprises producing paints and varnishes and textiles;
residents of large industrial cities, in particular those living near industrial enterprises;
workers whose activities involve cleaning sewer systems.

Permissible dose

There is a misconception that ammonia vapor poisoning can only be caused by exposure to a highly concentrated substance. However, you can be poisoned in small doses. It's only a matter of time.

With prolonged exposure to very small amounts of the substance, there is a risk of ammonia poisoning.

The lethal dose of an aqueous solution when taken orally is 25-50 ml (10% solution), 10-15 ml (25% solution).

The maximum gas concentration (MPC) in the air in industrial premises should not exceed 0.02 mg/l (20 mg per 1 m3).

Clinical picture

This nitrogen-containing substance has a superficial effect on the body. In other words, it does not have a destructive effect on the central nervous system and organs (the lungs are an exception). And when intoxicated with ammonia, circulatory disorders occur.

Due to the volatility of this compound, when ammonia poisoning occurs, symptoms appear immediately. Ammonia exposure through the respiratory tract can lead to death. Primary signs indicate lung damage:

The longer (more than five seconds) the vapor of a compound is inhaled, the greater the risk of developing allergic edema lungs.

If skin damage occurs during prolonged contact with the substance, the following signs will be present:

Hyperemia skin. The first hours after contact, the surface of the skin remains intact (if the substance was not highly concentrated). Hyperemia develops as a result of a rush of blood to the affected area on the skin. At this point, it is not recommended to rinse your hands with water. Because it will only enhance the effect of the solution.
Painful sensations. Deep burns are not accompanied painful sensations, because the nerve endings are affected.
Formation of blisters and scaly areas. Necrosis of the skin at the site of deep lesions.

If the substance gets into the eye mucosa, the following symptoms are observed:

Scleral hyperemia. This is due to an increase intraocular pressure and increased formation of tear fluid.
Excessive tearing.
Due to a violation of the conjunctiva, blurred vision occurs.

If assistance is not taken in a timely manner, vision loss and blindness may develop.

When the compound penetrates the bloodstream, a sharp dilation of blood vessels occurs. As a result, the pressure decreases. This is fraught with the development of collapse and death.

Emergency measures

Calling an ambulance is mandatory

Help with ammonia poisoning, even in mild degree, must be immediate. The first priority is to call the emergency room, because it is impossible to cope with toxemia with this gas on your own. This is the responsibility of toxicologists and pulmonologists.

Pre-medical measures

Subsequent actions are aimed at alleviating the condition and well-being of the poisoned person. If ammonia poisoning occurs, first aid consists of the following steps:

Move the victim out of the affected area for Fresh air, to ensure greater ventilation of the lungs.
Rinse the nasopharynx and skin surface with a weakly concentrated acid solution (you can use water solution citric acid). It is strictly not recommended to use water for rinsing purposes.
Apply anesthetic (Dicaine) to the eyes. Do not rinse with water or a weak acid solution. Then put on sunglasses.
In case of defeat digestive tract drink 2-4 glasses of water or solution table salt and induce vomiting.
After the rinsing procedure, apply a sterile gauze bandage.

Treatment
First health care in case of poisoning with ammonia compounds, it is performed in a clinical setting. After hospitalization, the patient will be prescribed the following procedures:

if necessary, flush the gastrointestinal tract using a probe;
for debilitating pain - administration of narcotic analgesics (fentanyl, morphine, etc.);
in case of laryngospasm - antispasmodics (no-spa), dexamethasone, with mild form— budesonide in the form of inhalations, heat on the cervical area;
oxygen inhalations;
if there is a threat of respiratory arrest - tracheostomy, artificial ventilation lungs.

If an ambulance arrives on time, about 5% of victims die.

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Ammonia is a gas consisting of a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen (NH 3) - hydrogen nitride. It is much lighter than air, has a specific pungent odor, and is highly soluble in water, forming an alkali - ammonia hydrate (NH 4 OH), called ammonia. This solution is unstable, NH 3 constantly evaporates, especially when the temperature rises, and enters the atmosphere. Ammonia poisoning occurs when it is in high concentrations in the air, or when small amounts are inhaled for a long time.

Where is ammonia used and why is it dangerous to health, what happens if you drink it, what are the symptoms and signs of damage from this gas? How does the substance affect the human body? How to provide first aid for ammonia poisoning? You will learn about this and much more in our article.

How can you get poisoned with NH 3?

Ammonia in natural conditions is formed during the decomposition of nitrogen-containing compounds - protein. However, it quickly combines with oxygen in the air, and its concentration in the atmosphere is negligible and not dangerous. It can be high in sewer lines, where there is little oxygen, and NH 3 is abundantly released during the decomposition of urea. Hydrogen nitride poisoning can occur in sewerage workers during prolonged periods of repair work Oh.

Most often, poisoning occurs in chemical production, where is hydrogen nitride found wide application, as a result of its leak or accident. Poisoning at home is also possible if the container with ammonia is not tightly closed, this gas enters the air in the room.

You can also get intoxicated during inhalation, when cotton wool with ammonia is given to sniff for more than 3-5 seconds to bring you to your senses and relieve fainting. As a result, the effect is the opposite.

Sometimes ammonia added to water for alkaline inhalations for bronchitis. Excess vapors of this substance are absorbed into the blood from the lungs and have an acute toxic effect when its concentration in the inhaled air reaches 300 mg/m3. Its content in the air that is safe for the body should not exceed 20 mg/m3.

Toxic effect of ammonia on the human body

When NH 3 enters the body with air, it has both local and general toxic effects on the entire body. Ammonia vapors cause irritation and burns to the eyes. In contact with the mucous membrane of the mouth, pharynx, trachea, and bronchi, they dissolve in the mucus water, forming an alkali, which destroys cells, causing burns.

In the alveoli of the lungs, NH 3 enters the blood and is distributed throughout the body. The most vulnerable is the central nervous system, the cells of which consist of 70% fat. Irritation occurs first nervous system, giving way to oppression of all its functions if help is not provided in time.

Ammonia alkali also destroys fatty substances that make up the cell membranes of all organs. Ammonia causes significant harm to human health. The cardiovascular system is exposed to toxic effects - it drops sharply arterial pressure, cardiac activity is weakened. The tissue of the liver and kidneys is affected, and insufficiency of their function develops. Also suffers endocrine system, all its functions are suppressed.

Symptoms of poisoning with ammonia and its vapors

The high aggressiveness of this toxic gas immediately after contact with it leads to the development of the following symptoms:

Burning in the eyes, pain when exposed to light, spasm of the eyelids, lacrimation;
Burning in the mouth, nasopharynx, copious mucus secretion;
Sore throat, hoarseness of voice;
Severe cough, shortness of breath, lack of air;
Strong headache , dizziness, feelings of anxiety and panic;
Nausea, vomiting, burning and abdominal pain.

At acute poisoning ammonia the main symptoms are more severe: after nervous excitement severe lethargy, loss of consciousness, and convulsions occur.

Asphyxia may immediately develop due to bronchial edema, pulmonary edema, respiratory arrest, collapse, acute heart failure. These violations lead to coma with a high risk of mortality.

First aid for poisoning

Anyone affected by ammonia vapors must be immediately removed or taken to fresh air and called ambulance. Next, rinse your face and eyes with running water. If there are painkillers eye drops, drop 2 drops into each eye, apply a soft gauze bandage.

The mouth, throat and nose should be rinsed with acidified water lemon juice, a weak solution of citric acid or vinegar (3-5%). Ammonia alkali is neutralized when interacting with acid, the damaging effect is weakened.

If the victim is unconscious, you need to lay him on his side to avoid asphyxia in case of vomiting. Be sure to determine the presence of a pulse and measure blood pressure, if possible.

With reduced pressure, you need to raise the foot end to increase blood flow to the brain. If breathing has stopped and a pulse cannot be felt, you need to perform indoor massage heart and artificial respiration.

In the hospital, the victim receives intensive therapy to remove toxic substance from the body, restoration of acid-base balance and organ functions. An injection of atropine solution is used as an antidote to ammonia. Treatment of burns of the oral cavity is carried out, respiratory tract, eye.

Consequences and complications

Severe hydrogen nitride poisoning is fraught with the development of complications such as pulmonary edema, acute heart failure, acute toxic encephalopathy, acute failure liver and kidney functions. These conditions require special inpatient treatment in the department intensive care or resuscitation.

Ammonia is a colorless gas that has a very pungent odor. It can be purchased in stores that sell various household chemicals. IN medical purposes A 10% ammonia solution is widely used, with the help of which the victim is brought to consciousness. Ammonia is also included in various land fertilizers and is used in the manufacture of household appliances(refrigerators and freezers).

A 10% solution is widely used for medical purposes.

It is also widely used for removing various stains on clothes (coffee, varnishes, paints, etc.) and for washing tiles and windows. Every day a person often encounters this harmful substance Therefore, in case of ammonia poisoning, it is necessary to use with extreme caution those drugs that contain it. At the first symptoms, you should urgently seek help from medical professionals.

First symptoms of poisoning

Toxic vapors of the substance enter human body by inhalation into the lungs and then enter the gastrointestinal tract. If such poisons come into contact with the skin, they cause local burns. Ammonia poisoning occurs in the following ways:

by inhalation;
by contact;
with damage to the eye organ.

Ammonia vapors have a high level of toxicity

This substance has a high level of toxicity, so the first signs of ammonia poisoning appear instantly. Prolonged work with such a substance can lead to bad consequences and severe poisoning ammonia vapor. The first symptoms of poisoning are:

Severe runny nose (rhinitis).
Sharp hoarseness of voice.
Swelling of the nasal mucosa (hyperemia).
Lacrimation (excessive production of tear fluid).
Dry cough, up to attacks.
Heavy salivation.
Acute pain and dryness in the larynx.
Feeling of heaviness throughout the body.
Migraine.
Asphyxia.
Sharp pain in the abdominal area, which is accompanied by heartburn and then vomiting.

If poisoning occurs using a highly concentrated solution, the victim may experience a burn to the upper respiratory tract, which subsequently leads to swelling and pneumonia of the lungs. Getting on the skin, such chemical element forms specific crusts on the surface. It is very dangerous if the poison gets into the eye area, which can cause vision loss and ammonia poisoning.

Inhalation of gas vapors leads to irritation of eyes and respiratory tract

Ammonia poisoning affects all human organs, so it is very important not to reach such a stage of poisoning so that death does not occur!

Emergency assistance in case of poisoning

Everything will depend on how quickly and correctly first aid is provided for ammonia poisoning. These actions must be performed in this order.

At the first symptoms, it is necessary to call an intensive care vehicle.
Provide the patient with fresh air.
It is necessary to rinse the nasopharynx with a weak solution of acid (citric acid).
It is necessary to instill the eyes with any eye drops.

If a symptom associated with indigestion appears, it is necessary to rinse the stomach with this solution (2 tablespoons per 5 liters of water regular salt). If there are symptoms of skin damage, rinse thoroughly. clean water surface and a bandage can be applied. You can do inhalations using a device such as a nebulizer, it helps to alleviate the patient’s condition.

At the first symptoms of poisoning, it is necessary to call a resuscitation machine

Consequences of poisoning

In order to prevent poisoning from occurring, it is necessary to follow basic safety rules with such chemicals. If you do not seek help from qualified medical personnel in time, death can occur. Be extremely careful when using ammonia, and at the first signs indicating poisoning, immediately call an ambulance!

Ammonia poisoning most often develops in people who work industrial enterprises. Especially in case of emergency situations. However, there is a possibility of contact with toxic substance when performing sewer repair work without the use of personal protective equipment and even at home. The volatile gas enters the human body through the respiratory tract, skin and mucous membranes. Since ammonia is a highly toxic gas, it has an adverse effect on many organs, leading to a significant deterioration in the victim’s well-being and complications.

Clinical picture

In case of ammonia poisoning, the symptoms of intoxication develop unusually quickly. However, a person does not necessarily have to long time contact with a volatile substance, even a slight excess of the maximum permissible gas concentrations in the air is enough to worsen the patient’s condition.

Ammonia poisoning usually occurs when the gas enters by airborne droplets. Accordingly, the predominant clinical picture characterized by damage to the respiratory system. Symptoms of ammonia poisoning include heavy discharge from the nose as rhinorrhea, the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx swells, free breathing becomes difficult.

The throat becomes red, hyperemic, pain and a sore feeling appear. The voice becomes hoarse, salivation increases. The penetration of ammonia vapor into the lungs leads to a dry cough, pain in the chest, feeling of squeezing and lack of air. Severe intoxication provokes respiratory failure, which significantly worsens the patient’s condition.

Signs of ammonia poisoning when mucous membranes are exposed to the gas include eye damage. The main manifestations of this condition are lacrimation, photophobia, blepharospasm, hyperemia and redness of the conjunctiva.

From the outside gastrointestinal tract symptoms of poisoning with a toxic substance are distinguished by the development of dyspeptic symptoms. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, and upset bowel movements occur.

Dermal manifestations are characterized by redness of the skin at the site of contact with an aggressive substance. It becomes swollen, blisters and even chemical burns appear.

What threatens the penetration of large doses of volatile gas?

The severity of clinical manifestations of ammonia vapor poisoning depends on the amount of toxic substance that enters the human body.

Intoxication large doses highly concentrated gas immediately leads to complications:

From the outside respiratory system. It provokes the development of burns of the mucous membrane of the throat, pneumonia and pulmonary edema. As a result, breathing is impaired.
From the side of the skin. Contact of ammonia on the skin leads to the formation of strong chemical burns. Over time, specific crusts form at the site of the lesion.
From the senses. Contact of concentrated ammonia with the mucous membrane of the eyes can cause a burn to the conjunctiva and even loss of vision.

Constant exposure to toxic gas, but in small quantities, leads to the development of chronic poisoning. In this case, all the signs are very vague, making it quite difficult to suspect ammonia vapor poisoning. At the same time, the substance has a negative effect on the human body: hearing deteriorates, problems appear in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory tract.

Urgent measures

First aid for poisoning with a toxic substance is to remove the victim from danger zone. In this way, further exposure to ammonia on the human body is removed. If this is not possible, oxygen access to the room should be quickly ensured.

Further actions largely depend on how the chemical entered the human body:

First aid for ammonia poisoning should be provided immediately. After all, the faster you can remove a toxic substance from the human body, the greater the chances of a successful recovery and the absence of complications. Therefore, even if the victim feels fine, you should definitely call an ambulance to examine him or hospitalize him if necessary.

Further therapy

Severe ammonia poisoning requires inpatient treatment and constant medical supervision to prevent the development of complications. Therapy for this condition is carried out in a specialized department - toxicology.

The patient must strictly comply bed rest. Further treatment the patient is symptomatic and is based on clinical manifestations ammonia intoxication.

Whenever severe swelling throat and laryngospasm, it is advisable to perform a tracheostomy. Active detoxification therapy is carried out in order to remove the toxic substance from the human body as quickly as possible.

When burns of the skin and cornea of the eye occur, treatment is aimed at relieving pain and speeding their healing. To prevent the development of pneumonia, you will need a course of antibacterial therapy.

To avoid ammonia poisoning, you should follow necessary rules prevention. First of all, when working with this toxic substance, use personal protective equipment - a respirator, goggles, masks, gloves, special suits. There is no need to neglect safety rules, since your health depends on it.

Ammonia, as you probably know, is a gas with a fairly pungent odor. The main use environment for ammonia gas is in the industrial sector, in the production of explosives and fertilizers. Entry into the human body is possible through the respiratory tract, as well as through the skin, while prolonged exposure to the body can cause death, which urgently requires first aid measures to be taken when exposed to this gas.

Symptoms of ammonia poisoning

First aid for ammonia poisoning is necessary when the first symptoms appear, indicating its negative effect on the body. Thus, inhalation of ammonia vapor provokes irritation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and eyes, and the intensity of irritation is determined based on the concentration of the gas. In addition, exposure to ammonia provokes the following types of symptoms:

With continued exposure to the gas, severe muscle weakness, blood circulation is impaired, signs indicating respiratory distress appear. The effect on the skin is also obvious, which manifests itself in severe burning, swelling and pain. With regular repetition of exposure to ammonia, systemic disorders in the form of eating disorders, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, deafness. Possible death if it occurs characteristic features heart failure.

Measures to Prevent Ammonia Exposure

Given the seriousness of the consequences, first aid for ammonia poisoning should be provided as quickly as possible. You can protect yourself from exposure to ammonia by:

Face and open areas the skin is washed using large quantity water;
Immediately, care should be taken to ensure protection in the form of a respirator, gas mask or cotton-gauze bandage. It is better if the bandage or respirator used is moistened with a solution of citric acid (5%). Increased skin protection is provided by protective suits specifically designed for such situations, as well as by gloves and rubber boots.

First aid for ammonia poisoning

Direct first aid for ammonia poisoning comes down to the following actions:

The victim should be immediately taken out of the affected area;
If it is impossible to leave the affected area, it is important to ensure oxygen access;
The mouth, throat and nose are washed with water for about 15 minutes (additional effectiveness of rinses is ensured by adding citric or glutamic acid to the water);
Over the next 24 hours after the injury, absolute rest is ensured, which is important even with a minor degree of poisoning;
A 0.5% dicaine solution should be used for the eyes; in addition, they can be covered with a bandage;
If poison gets on an area of skin, rinse it with water as quickly as possible and then apply a bandage;
If poison enters the stomach, it requires rinsing;
Ammonia poisoning to one degree or another requires a visit to a doctor and it is possible that subsequent hospitalization.

Upon completion of treatment, certain neurological disorders, which may consist of loss of events and information from memory, tics of various types of manifestations, decreased pain sensitivity and hearing, a frequent outcome is clouding of the cornea and lens.