What happens if I inhale muriatic acid?

When common pool chemicals like chlorine and muriatic acid come into direct contact with living tissue, they can cause a range of reactions from irritating to severely damaging. If you inhale the dust or odor from these chemicals, you may experience coughing, choking, chest discomfort and shortness of breath.

What should you do if you inhale acid fumes?

If you have inhaled chemical or toxic fumes, you should get into fresh air straight away. Open doors and windows wide. If you are with someone who has inhaled toxic fumes, seek medical attention immediately. If they have collapsed, call triple zero (000) for an ambulance and start resuscitation.

What are the harmful effects of muriatic acid to humans?

Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure may cause eye, nose, and respiratory tract irritation and inflammation and pulmonary edema in humans. Acute oral exposure may cause corrosion of the mucous membranes, esophagus, and stomach and dermal contact may produce severe burns, ulceration, and scarring in humans.

Can muriatic acid fumes hurt you?

Inhalation of muriatic acid vapors can cause immediate coughing, choking, chest pain and tightness, hoarseness and sore throat, rapid pulse, and bluish tint to lips and fingers. More severe effects include inflammation or burning of the windpipe and respiratory tract, coughing up of blood and pulmonary edema.

Is muriatic acid poisonous?

When inhaled, it can result in upper respiratory tract irritation, leading to laryngeal edema, laryngeal spasm, and asphyxia. Concentrated hydrochloric acid causes similar corrosive injury to the skin and, if ingested, can cause severe corrosive injury to the mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach.

How do you neutralize muriatic acid?

Keep a supply of baking soda or garden lime nearby in case you need to quickly neutralize muriatic acid. While sprinkling these substances full-strength will work, the best plan is to mix ½ cup of baking soda and a quart of water in a sealed spray bottle and keep it nearby.

Is it safe to use muriatic acid?

In fact, working with it poses numerous health risks: Momentary skin exposure can cause severe burns, inhaling its fumes can burn lung and nose lining, and contact can also cause irreversible eye damage or blindness. Homeowners should never reach for muriatic acid lightly.

Can muriatic acid burn your lungs?

Breathing high levels of the gas or vapor can lead to a build-up of fluid in the lungs, which may cause death. Because hydrochloric acid is corrosive, it can cause eye damage, even blindness, if splashed in the eyes. Skin contact can cause severe burns.

Is muriatic acid toxic?

Muriatic acid is harmful if swallowed and may cause irreversible damage to mucous membranes; repeated or prolonged exposure to corrosive materials or fumes may cause gastrointestinal disturbances.

How long does it take for muriatic acid to neutralize?

Brush or spray on a 1:10 diluted mix of acid in water onto the surface, allow it to sit for up to 10 minutes, but no longer, then spray it with a solution of 1 cup ammonia in a gallon of water to neutralize the acid.

Does muriatic acid smell?

Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride (chemical formula: HCl). It is a colorless solution with a distinctive pungent smell.