This file provides information for persons who may have been exposed to ammonia gas or ammonium hydroxide solution.
Ammonia is a colorless, highly irritating gas with a sharp, suffocating odor.
It easily dissolves in water to form a caustic solution called ammonium hydroxide. Ammonia is among the five most abundantly produced chemicals in the world. It is also used as a refrigerant and in the manufacture of plastics, explosives, pesticides, and other chemicals. It is found in many household and industrial-strength cleaning solutions. Most exposures to ammonia are by breathing the gas.