My husband's a police officer, and he had an exposure to anhydrous ammonia. Possible long term side effects?

My husband received a call that there were people who broke into the fertilizer plant. As he was walking around looking for whoever was there, he stepped into a cloud of anhydrous ammonia. It was enough to drop him to the ground, unable to breath. When the other officers arrived, they immediately poured water on him, and he went to the hospital. He was treated and released.





The doctors have said he might develop asthma, but what other complications could he possibly have from the exposure?My husband's a police officer, and he had an exposure to anhydrous ammonia. Possible long term side effects?
Your husband will be fine. Ammonia is so suffocatingly irritating, it's difficult to breath in enough to suffer permanent side effects, provided that one survives the initial exposure.





It's the chronic exposure, or repeated exposure that poses the real long term danger. The people working inside the plant for example.





I'd suggest not even worrying about your husband developing asthma as a result of this. Of course if he does, then make sure to track any respiratory problems that he develops back to this exposure so that it can be properly treated under a workman's comp claim.My husband's a police officer, and he had an exposure to anhydrous ammonia. Possible long term side effects?
Caustic Nature


Anhydrous ammonia forms an alkali when in contact with water, and it chemically burns animal tissue. The chemical will burn its way into the body unless it is diluted by vast quantities of water. Anhydrous ammonia is extremely destructive to animal tissue. The skin is reduced to a sticky, gooey substance as the chemical burn progresses. Skin that is chemically burned by the ammonia is actually killed and is not capable of healing or replacing itself. Damaged tissue must be removed by a medical doctor so that healing can proceed. The results can often be disfiguring.





Types of Exposure


Anhydrous ammonia has a very strong affinity for water. It requires vast quantities of water to neutralize the caustic effects of anhydrous ammonia on moist areas of the body. Such areas include the eyes, breathing system (mouth, throat, bronchial tubes, lungs), and especially moist skin (skin which is damp from perspiration; arm pits, groin, forehead, scalp, feet).





Skin


Anhydrous ammonia will cause freezing and chemical burn wherever the skin and clothing are moist. The sub-zero temperature of escaping anhydrous ammonia will freeze clothing to the body. Do not attempt to remove any clothing that is frozen to the skin. It must be thawed loose first or skin tissue may be pulled from the victim.





The caustic nature of anhydrous ammonia will cause skin and tissue burns similar to burns from heat. Do not apply salves, creams, or ointments of any kind to the injury. The caustic burning can only be stopped by dilution with large quantities of water.





Eyes


The eyes are continually bathed in moisture. Anhydrous ammonia will seek out this moisture. The burns will result in damage to the eyes such as cataracts, glaucoma, and possibly some permanent vision loss and disfigurement.





If the eyes have been exposed to anhydrous ammonia they must be immediately and continually flushed with water and then victim taken to a doctor immediately. Everyone who works with anhydrous ammonia should carry a 6 or 8 ounce squeeze bottle of fresh water on their person at all times. This small amount of water will last only long enough for the worker to get to a larger quantity of water, but it may make the difference between blindness and sight.





Initially, it may be necessary to force the victim's eyelids open after the exposure. The ammonia trapped under the eyelids must be flushed out with water or it will continue to burn the eyeball and related tissues.





Lungs


At low concentrations the odor of anhydrous ammonia will usually drive the unprotected worker away from the scene. At a higher level of concentration the worker may not escape without inhaling a dangerous dose. The entire respiratory system is very moist, so anhydrous ammonia will naturally be attracted to that part of the body. When a concentrated level of anhydrous ammonia is inhaled it will quickly burn the respiratory system. It may hurt too much to breathe. The respiratory system may essentially be paralyzed due to the pain.





First response rescue workers may not be able to treat a serious inhalation exposure. Medical technicians may be able to administer oxygen to aid breathing after their arrival to the scene. It may be difficult to maintain adequate respiration until delivery to a medical facility.





Respiratory protection is extremely important but also limited in regard to what equipment is available. A two-cartridge respirator is only effective for exposure levels of less than 300 parts per million. Canister type respirators may be effective for longer periods at higher concentrations, but without skin protection walking through an ammonia cloud is generally not advisable. A self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) which supplies the air to be breathed and a sealed, protective HazMat suit are required for working in a cloud of escaping anhydrous ammonia. Anything less will not sufficiently protect a person in this situation.
headaches, coughing or rashes





Last summer I developed asthma because I was blowing up a beach ball made from china. Anyways I think the powder substance triggered it in my lungs.
he's lucky to be alive
well the dr. already told you....you would listen to us over the dr. ? scary.