Metal finishing Q&As since 1989
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Swallowing Muriatic Acid
Most recent posting:
A. I actually did drink muriatic acid 3 years ago almost exactly. I'm alive; they took out four and a half feet of my intestines; I was on life support for 8 days, and in the hospital for two and a half months. I have 32 ulcers on my esophagus -- they didn't think I was ever going to speak again. I have two entrances to my stomach, but I'm alive. I just thought I would answer that question ... however, the worst part being that they're not able to tell me what to expect in the future because they've never had this before. There was 33 doctors watching over me the first night.
This was not on purpose, might I add. This was put in a vodka bottle to hide it in plain sight, and I thought it was my vodka. Obviously never would have ever thought that there was acid in them. That's what took place and I just thought I would let you guys know :-)
Hope that helps
- Akron Ohio
December 1, 2019
⇩ Closely related postings, oldest first ⇩
Q. What would happen if someone was to swallow muriatic acid? Would it kill them? How would that work?
Denise Atwood- Yuma, Arizona
2002
A. Denise,
What a weird and morbid question! To which the answer is YES ... esophagus and lung damage probably and leading, I guess, to pneumonia. R.I.P.
ANY, any acid or any alkali can kill you. This is why all containers of even highly diluted chemicals like this show warnings, i.e., they are dangerous and must never, ever be ingested.
Why the question? We, all of us who read the finishing.com, are biting our nails awaiting your response.
Freeman Newton [deceased]
(It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away
April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend).
2002
Q. Why the question. Well, My class went to the Yuma Territorial Prison and I read that one of the Prisoners drank muriatic acid and I was just curious as to how that worked. My teacher thought it was a strange question too. So don't get too freaked out. L8R! & thanks for answering my question.
Denise Atwood [returning]- Yuma, Arizona
2002
Phew ... I too, was going to answer the question the way that Freeman did, but was worried I would be "aiding and abetting"
Marc Green
anodizer - Boise, Idaho
2002
A. A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) should have this information. The MSDS will tell you what horrible things can happen if you have skin contact, inhale, ingest, etc.. There are places on the web where you can get MSDS information for free. Here is one affiliated with the University of Vermont, siri.org/msds/
Tim Neveau
Rochester Hills, Michigan
2002
A. There was also a financial real estate speculator who killed himself by swallowing muriatic acid back in 1929 in New York, just months before the Wall Street crash.
John Whittle- charleston, South Carolina u.s.a.
2003
A. Interesting question! Muriatic acid is a dilute form of hydrochloric acid normally used for cleaning concrete and adjusting the pH of swimming pools. Normal stomach acid is also a very dilute form of hydrochloric acid. Yes you would die of ingesting muriatic acid....you might say that the cause of death is extreme acid indigestion!
By the way, we consume lots of acids and alkalies every day. vinegar [in bulk on eBay or Amazon], orange juice, etc. are all acids...weak acids, but acids none the less. The effect depends on the strength, which is normally measured in pH.
J. Mark Runnels, PE- Augusta, Georgia USA
2003
Q. Hi, I was on site today using Muriatic Acid to clean mortar off the bricks. I got a bit of acid on my face. I rubbed my hand across my face and tasted Acid in my mouth. I spat out what I could and swallowed as it was a hot day. I felt fine till a few hours after. What will happen to my insides and what shall I do.
reece lloydBricklayer - UK
June 15, 2015
A. Hi. You should immediately see a doctor, of course!
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
June 2015
! Here in the Philippines I have a friend who drank muriatic acid because he wanted to end his life; luckily he didn't die. We visited the hospital and they have 2 - 3 of the same cases. He is the only one who survived. He can't speak normally that time. And we asked what did he feel when he drink that. He said, it's soooo freakin HOT then he suddenly collapsed. The next thing he knew, he's already in the hospital.
Bereng M [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Cebu, Philippines
December 3, 2016
! I'm from Philippines, Catbalogan, Samar. My brother swallowed muriatic acid January 11 2017 and after the operation he is at private hospital. He is in danger as of the moment; until now he can speak well but the bleeding in right side of drainage is ongoing and he spit blood once yesterday, but it stopped after a while. What should we do to survive, my brother?
roque l. [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Catbalogan, Samar Philippines
January 28, 2017
January 2017
Hi Roque. We are just metal finishers. I'm sure he is in good hands and receiving medical care in the hospital. We hope and pray for the best for him.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Q. Hi, I know next to nothing about Muriatic Acid ... however, my roommate who takes care of our pool just bought some yesterday (for the first time) and decided to store it in my pantry with all of our food. I happened to be reorganizing my pantry hours later when I noticed the cardboard box marked hazardous which housed 2 unopened plastic bottles. I asked that my roommate move it which he did to a cabinet next to my pantry with paper products. Since then I've read all over the internet that it should be stored outside because of its propensity to leach through the bottle it's packaged in. My question is whether or not the food in my pantry could have been contaminated or if it's safe to consume? Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you for your time.
Ann McPherson- Oakland, California
February 9, 2017
A. Hi Ann. Although it's true that it is bad practice to store acids and cleaning agents with food, accidents are probably a bigger reason than contamination. With sealed bottles and no acid smell I wouldn't worry about it at all.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Q. We have an incident like that -- what are the first symptoms of the person that is in higher level in danger? SOS HELP.
kram d. [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- catbalogan, philippines
August 16, 2017
A. Find a doctor, Kram! Sorry for whatever trouble someone you know is suffering, but the idea that you could assess the danger a person is in by having people thousands of miles away, who are not doctors, attempt to guess the likely symptoms is unfortunately ridiculous :-(
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
August 2017
Q. Hi good day. My brother drank 50 ml of muriatic acid and he is in the hospital now, and was operated on his neck for breathing. Is there a possibility that he will be back to normal after that? I'm just worried he might be forever using tube for his breathing. Thanks.
Jeserel e, [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Zamboanga del norte, Philippines
October 7, 2017
Q. My son is in intensive care after someone swapped his glass of water to acid; he has been here 7 days on two life support machines and may never come home, or if he does may be severely disabled. It has burnt mouth, throat, esophagus, and both Lungs internally.
Lyn Graham- Uk kent
January 19, 2018
January 2018
So sorry for this anguish, Lyn. People are praying for you and your son, and I'm sure doctors and nurses are doing everything humanly possible to help him.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Q. Hi. I have a friend she drink muriatic acid, because she wanted to end her life because of many problems. Maybe she is not strong enough to handle her emotions. Until now she's still in her medication, she has a tube for her food. Her food is blended fruits & vegetables and now she is waiting for the second operation on her esophagus to be able to eat again in her mouth. Her intestine damage and also her esophagus.
Mary Grace T. [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Cagayan de oro city philippines
August 25, 2018
Q. My relative drank 10 ml of ceramic cleaning acid. Endoscopy reports says multiple erosions in esophagus and stomach. As of now he doesn't feel any burning or itching sensations. The doctor has suggested to wait for 10 days to see if he is able to swallow food. Can anyone tell how much percentage that he is out of danger?
Mary R [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Arizona USA
January 2, 2019
Q. One of my relatives drank acid approx. 20 years ago; she is still suffering from acute acidity problem and she has to go for dilation every 20 days. Can you suggest any remedy?
Prabhat B [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]Relative - Kota, rajasthan India
April 30, 2019
A. Hi Prabhat. Sorry for her and you, but this is a medical problem, not a metal finishing problem, and regular care and examination from a skilled physician is what is needed.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
May 2019
! The sister of my grandmother used to put muriatic acid in drinking water and she used to put muriatic acid on her skin.
Leo canedo- Cebu city Philippines
September 30, 2019
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