SFR Guidance > Effects of Corrosive Substances

Guidance Notes: Effects of Corrosive Substances

Possible effects have been included below and have been taken from Public Health England guidance relating to chemical incidents. Please note that if detailed information regarding the effects of corrosive substances on skin or eyes, a medical professional should be contacted.

Ammonia Solution- Reference: Public Health England, August 2019

Health effects

  • irritant and corrosive
  • may be harmful by any route of exposure.
  • inhalation is the most common route of exposure.
  • inhalation causes irritation of the eyes and nose, with sore throat, cough, chest tightness, headache, fever, wheeze tachycardia and confusion
  • ingestion causes immediate burning of the mouth, throat and stomach.
  • dermal contact can cause series burns.
  • alkaline solutions can damage all layers of the eyes and should be considered an ophthalmic emergency.

Bleach (sodium hypochlorite)- Reference: Public Health England, August 2019

Health effects

  • household bleach (under 10% sodium hypochlorite) is a mild to moderate irritant which does not cause tissue damage unless ingested in large amounts.
  • bleaches with a hypochlorite concentration greater than 10% are corrosive.
  • ingestion of any amount of an industrial strength bleach (over 10% sodium hypochlorite) may cause significant toxicity.
  • alkaline solutions can damage all layers of the eyes and should be considered an ophthalmic emergency.

Sodium hydroxide- Reference: Public Health England, October 2015

Health effects

  • inhalation causes irritation of the eyes and nose with sore throat, cough, chest tightness, wheeze, headache, tachycardia and confusion; pulmonary oedema may take up to 36 hours to develop.
  • ingestion causes burning in the mouth, throat and stomach, followed by dysphagia, drooling, abdominal pain, vomiting, haematemesis and dyspnoea; haemorrhagic or hypovolemic shock and airway obstruction may occur in severe cases.
  • dermal exposure causes deep, full thickness burns.
  • ocular exposure causes pain, blepharospasm, lacrimation, conjunctivitis, palpebral oedema and photophobia, in severe cases corneal burns, glaucoma and cataracts may occur, alkali burns to the eyes should be considered an ophthalmic emergency.

Hydrogen peroxide- Reference: Public Health England, August 2018

Health effects

  • hydrogen peroxide may cause irritation, coughing and dyspnoea, with greater exposures leading to more severe and persistent irritation and pulmonary oedema.
  • ingestion may cause nausea, vomiting and hematemesis. Impaired consciousness, apnoea, stridor, cyanosis, convulsions and cardiac arrest may occur rapidly when concentrated solutions have been ingested.
  • may cause a whitening of the skin, inflammation, blistering and burns.
  • weaker solutions may cause blurred vision, burning and redness while stronger solutions may cause corneal ulceration or perforation.

Hydrochloric acid- Reference: Public Health England, August 2019

Health effects

  • corrosive by all routes of exposure.
  • inhalation causes irritation of the eyes and nose, with sore throat, cough, chest tightness, headache, fever, wheeze, tachycardia and confusion.
  • ingestion causes immediate pain with burning in the mouth, throat and stomach • haemorrhagic or hypovolemic shock and airway obstruction from laryngeal and/or epiglottic oedema are features of severe cases.
  • dermal exposure causes pain, blistering, ulceration and penetrating necrosis.
  • ocular exposure causes pain, blepharospasm, lacrimation, conjunctivitis, palpebral oedema and photophobia; corneal burns may occur.

Sulphuric acid- Reference: Public Health England, August 2019

Health effects

  • corrosive by inhalation, ingestion, eye contact and skin contact.
  • inhalation causes irritation of eyes and nose, with sore throat, cough, chest tightness, headache, fever, wheeze, tachycardia and confusion.
  • ingestion causes immediate pain, with burning in the mouth, throat and stomach; in severe cases, extensive areas of the gastrointestinal tract may be involved.
  • dermal exposure causes pain, blistering, ulceration and penetrating necrosis.
  • ocular exposure causes pain, blepharospasm, lacrimation, conjunctivitis, palpebral oedema and photophobia.

Nitric Acid- Reference: Public Health England, June 2017

Health effects

  • inhalation causes irritation of the eyes and nose, with sore throat, cough, chest tightness, headache, fever, wheeze, tachycardia and confusion. • in serious cases, corrosive damage to the mucous membranes of both the upper and lower respiratory tract occurs.
  • ingestion causes immediate pain, with burning in the mouth, throat and stomach.
  • acids may cause pain, blistering, ulceration and penetrating necrosis.
  • large or prolonged exposure may result in systemic effects.
  • ocular exposure causes pain, blepharospasm, lacrimation, conjunctivitis, palpebral oedema and photophobia