Ammonia Spill Requires Emergency Response
HazChem received a call that there was an ammonia spill from a broken bottle on a pallet that was damaged during shipping. The crew arrived on site, donned level “C” Tyvek suits with air purifying respirators to work with the UN2672 ammonia solution.
UN2672 refers to ammonia solution, a hazardous material that carries several risks due to its chemical properties. Typically a mixture of ammonia gas dissolved in water, it’s often used in industrial settings for cleaning, chemical processing, or refrigeration. Here are some of the primary dangers associated with it:
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Corrosive Nature: Ammonia solution is highly corrosive to skin, eyes, and respiratory passages. Direct contact can cause severe burns, skin irritation, and, in extreme cases, permanent damage to tissues. Eye exposure can result in serious injury or blindness if not immediately washed out.
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Respiratory Hazards: Inhalation of ammonia vapors can cause respiratory distress, coughing, and throat irritation. Higher concentrations can lead to more severe respiratory issues, including bronchitis, pulmonary edema, or even death. In confined spaces, it poses a risk of toxic buildup, making ventilation critical during handling.
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Environmental Impact: If released into the environment, ammonia solution can harm aquatic life and vegetation due to its high alkalinity. Ammonia in water bodies increases nitrogen levels, which disrupts ecosystems, leading to excessive algae growth and reduced oxygen for other aquatic organisms.
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Reactivity and Fire Risk: Ammonia solution is reactive, especially with acids, halogens, and oxidizers. Although it is not flammable on its own, it can produce explosive mixtures if exposed to open flames or mixed with other incompatible chemicals, which makes proper storage essential.
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Vapor Pressure Hazards: At high concentrations, ammonia solutions emit significant amounts of ammonia gas, which can lead to toxic vapor exposure. Workers handling this solution should use personal protective equipment (PPE) like respirators, chemical-resistant gloves, and goggles to avoid inhalation or skin contact.
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Risk of Toxicity: Ammonia is toxic when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin, and even low concentrations can cause health issues with prolonged exposure. OSHA and other regulatory agencies limit the permissible exposure to ammonia to prevent toxic buildup in workplace environments.
Safe handling of UN2672 ammonia solution involves proper PPE, containment measures, ventilation, and emergency protocols to minimize exposure and environmental harm. HazChem Environmental’s HazMat professionals are trained to manage spills or leaks of ammonia solutions to prevent any serious incident or ecological impact.
HazChem Emergency Responders located the damaged box and separated it from the other freight.
The solution had ben absorbed into the cardboard box and contaminated the surrounding floor of the trailer along with some other freight. The crew moved the damaged container holding the ammonia solution and tested the floor for the pH.
The crew staged a 55-gallon poly drum to store the damaged freight into.
The HazChem Emergency Response Team staged a second 55-gallon poly drum to place the contaminated freight into for disposal.
The crew made a mixture of citric acid and water to neutralize the trailer floor from the basic solution spilled. Absorbent pads were then used to clean the remnants of the spill.
The spill generated two waste drums that were properly labeled, sealed, and kept on-site. Final photos were taken, and the remediation was approved.
HazChem Prioritizes Prompt & Effective Emergency Response for Ammonia Spill Emergency Remediation and Cleanup:
Emergency spills present significant environmental and public health hazards, emphasizing the importance of prompt and effective response measures to contain the hazardous material spills, mitigate its impacts, and prevent further contamination of soil, water, and air.
HazChem will keep you in compliance with the regulations and help protect you from further liability. With over 30 years in the waste management business, we are trustworthy, safe, reliable, and compliant. Learn more about HazChem Emergency Rapid Response, Chemical Spill Response Services, and Non-Hazardous Waste Disposal.
SUPER-FAST 60-Minute Response Time for Wastewater Spills
We understand the urgent and critical nature of your call for service. Our Emergency Rapid Response Teams are ready, willing, and able to respond quickly to remedy your emergency spill situation. Our Emergency Response Vehicles are pre-loaded with 90% of the equipment needed for any emergency situation. The final 10% will be added for your particular needs. This advance preparation enables us to deploy a Team within 60 minutes or less from our facility.
Based upon our clients’ feedback, this is far better than the typical response time from most of our competitors. Their response is usually measured in multiple hours, and sometimes days or even weeks. Our Team is always ready to deploy, 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, rain or shine, including holidays. We do not rely on automated answering systems for our main phone line (630) 458-1910. Instead, we guarantee that a live person will answer your call, regardless of whether it is a weekend, holiday, or any other day.
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