Letter 34002

Inhaling muratic acid on accident [Florida]  

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What would happen if someone inhaled the fumes of Muratic acid? My dad accidently did this at a Vet's office and he is having trouble breathing and having chest pains.

Shannin Strickland
broken bar m ranch - Ocala, FL, USA

Shannin,

This sounds like an obvious situation to me. Tissue can be damaged by muriatic acid, also known as hydrochloric acid. It would be referred to as a chemical burn. Usually the body's response is to stop breathing before too much of it is inhaled. It dissolves into the water contained in the tissues and mucous. A serious exposure could result in pneumonia, damaged lungs and eyes, or possibly death.

The victim should see a medical doctor immediately for any situation involving difficulty breathing, chest pain, etc. And it goes without saying that the vet's office (and any other business) should have an emergency plan for situations involving spills of hazardous materials such as muriatic acid.

Paul Tibbals, P.E.     gas & electric San Ramon, CA, USA (My opinions are not related to nor a statement of my employer's)

Inhalation: Corrosive! Inhalation of vapors can cause coughing, choking, inflammation of the nose, throat, and upper respiratory tract, and in severe cases, pulmonary edema, circulatory failure, and death.

First Aid Measures

Inhalation: Remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Get medical attention immediately.

http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/H3880.htm

Brian Gaylets
lock manufacturer - Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Muriatic (hydrochloric) acid is a strong acid and the fumes can be very irritating. While I don't know the circumstances he encountered, I can't believe he inhaled enough of the fumes to cause permanent damange. Hydrochloric acid has an extremely acrid and pungent odor and we have a natural disdain for inhaling more. Once he got the first hit (probably small because he would stop inhaling) he wouldn't continue to just keep breathing in the fumes.

Conversely, if he were in an enclosed room with not ventillation and no means of escaping the fumes, then he obviously could have received some lung damage. I have inhaled acid fumes several times and while it is unpleasant, it is typically does not cause permanent damage.

He should still have his lungs checked by a doctor just to make sure and give him some peace of mind though.

Daryl Spindler
Decorative nickel chrome plating - Nashville, TN

I work for a painting contractor, have been for two and a half weeks. The past two days at our current job some of the guys have been spraying Muriatic acid on the concrete floors for prep purposes. They all had respirators on, since I was in other rooms I didn't. Still quite frequently I could smell the fumes which made it seriously difficult to breath and in order to finish my job I just breathed less. Now night #2 my throat all the way down to the bottom of my lungs hurts, and I'm coughing up excessive phlem not to mention my body aches allll over.
My advice stay as far away from these fumes as possible!

Cory Gordon
- Topeka, KS, USA

I KNOW EXACTLY HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT MURIATIC ACID. I WENT TO PUT THIS CHEMICAL INTO OUR SWIMMING POOL AND I WAS EVEN OUTSIDE! I ACCIDENTALLY BREATHED IN SOME OF THE FUMES FROM THE BOTTLE AND I STARTED COUGHING IT WAS AWFUL. NOW TODAY AND EVEN A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER I CAN BARELY SWALLOW BECAUSE MY THROAT IS OBVIOUSLY BURNED FROM THE CHEMICALS. THIS STUFF IS LETHAL AND I FEEL FOR YOUR FATHER.

BECKY TAYLOR
STUDENT AND MOTHER - VICTORVILLE, CALIFORNIA, USA

Hi,
I was cleaning the bathroom and I used some muriatic acid on the flooring. I accidentally inhaled the fumes but I am sure it is only a mild exposure since I coughed it out immediately and went out of the bathroom. And then after a week I discovered I was pregnant. Do you think this exposure would cause a damage to my baby? I think I was 3 weeks pregnant then. Please advise.
Thanks!

Karen Paras
- Makati, Philippines

I think the chances of it being harmful to your baby are zero, but please see a doctor rather than relying in internet chatter.

Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, New Jersey

It would be good to know how long it takes to experience the corrosive effects of muriatic acid if it seems at first like one has inhaled a mild dose. Would one know immediately that something serious has happened or does the effect of the fumes build on the tissues over time?

Wyn Wachhorst
- Atherton, CA, USA

Again, see your doctor if you are experiencing any symptoms . . . but I think you'll know it instantaneously if you are exposed to muriatic acid fumes.

Ted Mooney, P.E. 
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey

Three weeks ago I was working in a restaurant when someone poured muratic acid down the drains. All of a sudden we were engulfed by a rotten egg smell. I got on the microphone and told everyone it would be a good idea if everyone would go outside until we knew what was causing the odor. The owner decided to close, so I went back in to pack up my equipment. 2 days later I woke because I couldn't breathe. I have been to the emergency room twice and was given inhalers and steroids. Since the incident I have felt like someone was sitting on my chest, had a constant headache, lightheadednesss and numbness in the mouth, shoulders and neck. The hospital recommended I see a neurologist. Everything I have read about exposure says there will be breathing problems but I have read nothing about my other symptoms. My head has been very unclear since the exposure. Can exposure to muratic acid harm other parts of the body?

Stephanie Burt
none - Yuma, Az, USA

Stephanie, this is crazy: you want some stranger on the internet to tell you NOT to go to a neurologist when you've been to the emergency room twice and the qualified medical doctors who have examined you have recommended it? At the least, see your family physician! It is difficult for a trained physician examining you to tell whether any portion of your symptoms are psychosomatic, and silly to think that a reader can do so based on the usual toxicology of hydrochloric acid. But a strong rotten egg smell is indicative of exposure to sulfur dioxide rather than hydrochloric acid anyway. Good luck but please see your doctor today.

Ted Mooney, P.E. 
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey

I inhaled pool chemicals by accident, early this morning. I couldn't breath and coughed-up alot of phlem. I drank alot of milk, water, took a quick shower and layed down 4 about a hour. It makes you feel quite weak. My breathing is better now. Reading all your e-mail made me wonder if there is any damage. I'm off to the doctor right now.

Judi Lontos
Beauty Therapist - Germiston, Gauteng, South Africa

Muriatic Acid Incident (Scared to Death). I read about a few folks putting muratic acid in their swimming pools and breathing fumes later. I also had the same problem, but I got into the pool for a couple of hours. I was a little intoxicated since we had a few beers first. I started coughing and noticed that my skin had burns. A couple of days later, I went to the doctor because I thought I was coming down with pneumonia. I was admitted and released later, but I never got rid of the cough and chest irritation. I didn't mention the swimming pool incident to the doctor because I didn't think the symptom was related to something I may have done. Now, after two weeks, I am worried about lung damage. I think if I get another cold it could be fatal. Question; if I do have damage, is there a medicines to help? What does everyone think?

Monty Brownlee
Retired hobbyist - Philippines

This is a subject hard for me to speak of. A cruel human being broke into my friend's house while we were sleeping in the living room. This woman kicked down the door and poured a gallon of hydrochloric (muriatic) acid into the house and another one all over my friend. We were in a very small place (350 square feet). I had never heard of this chemical before, I was woken up by the strongest, most terrifying, smell.
My friend immediately jumped in the shower to rinse off and I ran outside gasping and hyperventilating in complete shock. After the "drama" of this wicked event, we stayed in this small house for about 4 days. My friend had cleaned up(I have no idea how) the acid mess. I kept making it known that I was very weak, I could barely move my body, and I couldn't breathe through my nose. It also did a number on me outside of the house. The smell of being outside, miles away, would make me gag and want to throw up and I had insane body pains. My skin turned yellow...
I have never been in so much HELL.
Months have passed, what kind of damage could I have had?
Do you think it is still there?

Lauren Madison
- Tampa Bay, FL, US

Hi, Lauren. Unfortunately, to request a 2nd opinion from a stranger on the internet, with no medical experience, and no real understanding of your exposure, is a bit silly. If you are not satisfied with what you have learned from your visits to the doctor you need to find another doctor to examine you and offer his assessment.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E. 
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey

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