Spent Acid

Potential health effects

Exposure to Sulfuric Acid mists by inhalation may cause irritation of the nose and throat with sneezing, sore throat or runny nose; non-specific effects such as headache, nausea and weakness. Gross overexposure may cause irritation of nose, throat, and lungs with cough, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Pulmonary edema (body fluid in the lungs) with cough, wheezing, abnormal lung sounds, possibly progressing to severe shortness of breath and bluish discoloration of the skin; symptoms may be delayed. Repeated and/or prolonged exposure to mists may cause corrosion of teeth. Continued) Skin contact with liquid Sulfuric Acid may cause skin corrosion, burns or ulcers. Contact with a 1 % solution may cause slight irritation with itching, redness or swelling. Repeated and/or prolonged exposure to mists may cause irritation with itching, burning, redness, swelling or rash. Eye contact with liquid Sulfuric Acid may cause eye corrosion or ulceration; blindness may result. Repeated and/or prolonged exposure to mists may cause eye irritation with tearing, pain or blurred vision. Immediate effects of ingestion of Sulfuric Acid may include burns of the mouth, throat, esophagus and stomach, with severe pain, bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea and collapse of blood pressure - damage may appear days after exposure. Increased susceptibility to the effects of this material may be observed in persons with pre-existing disease of the lungs. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified "strong inorganic acid mists containing sulfuric acid" as a Category 1 carcinogen, a substance that is "carcinogenic to humans". This classification does not apply to sulfuric acid or sulfuric acid solutions. The basis for the IARC classification rests on several epidemiology studies which have several deficiencies. These studies did not account for exposure to other substances, some known to be animal or potential human carcinogens, social influences (smoking, etc.) and included small numbers of subjects. Based on the weight of evidence from human studies, no definitive causal relationship between sulfuric acid mist exposure and respiratory tract tumors in humans has been shown. "Strong inorganic acid mists containing sulfuric acid" are also listed by The National Toxicology Program (NTP) as "known human carcinogens." This limits the classification to sulfuric acid aerosols and does not extend to the liquid product, unless the acid is used under conditions that result in the formation of mists or aerosols. Fuming acid is covered by the classification. Carcinogenicity Information The following components are listed by IARC NTP