Muriatic acid; hydrogen chloride, aqueous

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

Emergency Overview -------------------------- POISON! DANGER! CORROSIVE. LIQUID AND MIST CAUSE SEVERE BURNS TO ALL BODY TISSUE, MAY BE FATAL IF SWALLOWED OR INHALED. INHALATION MAY CAUSE LUNG DAMAGE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Health Rating: 3 – Severe (Poison) Flammability Rating: 0 – None Reactivity Rating: 2 – Moderate Contact Rating: Extreme (Corrosive) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Potential health effects

Inhalation: Corrosive! Irritating to respiratory tract; 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. Ingestion: Corrosive! Swallowing hydrochloric acid can cause immediate pain and burns of the mouth, throat, esophagus and gastrointestinal tract. May cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Swallowing may be fatal. Skin Contact: Corrosive! Can cause redness, pain, and severe skin burns unless the hydrochloric acid is washed off immediately. Skin may dry or crack due to astringent nature of material. Repeated skin contact may lead to development of dermatitis. Concentrated solutions cause deep ulcers and discolor skin. Eye Contact: Corrosive! Eye contact results in severe irritation and painful burns of the eyes and eyelids. If material is not removed by copious irrigation with water at room temperature, visual Impairment or total loss of vision could result. Chronic Exposure: Prolonged exposure to low-level concentrations of hydrochloric acid vapor may cause discoloration and erosion of teeth, bleeding of nose and gums, and ulcers of the nasal mucosa. Asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, bronchial hyperactivity, skin allergies, and eczema may all be aggravated by exposure to hydrochloric acid vapor. Aggravation of Pre-existing Conditions: Persons with pre-existing skin disorders or eye disease may be more susceptible to the effects of this substance. The discomfort caused by hydrochloric acid vapor is usually sufficient to induce a person to leave areas of excessive concentrations; vapor can be fatal to those sprayed with acid or trapped in enclosed areas.