More than 4,690 people were evacuated following 30 hydrochloric acid releases. Also known as muriatic acid, hydrochloric acid is formed by dissolving hydrogen chloride gas in water. The American Chemical Society estimates that about 4 million tons of hydrochloric acid were produced in the United States in 1997.
Hydrochloric acid is corrosive to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes.
Skin contact may produce severe burns, ulceration, and scarring. Short-term inhalation exposure may cause coughing, hoarseness, inflammation and ulceration of the respiratory tract, chest pain, and pulmonary edema. Health effects following low level exposure may subside shortly after the person is moved to fresh air, but exposure to higher levels can cause life-long injury. The goal of this federal project is to reduce injury and death from accidental chemical releases through improved understanding of the causes. Learning about hydrochloric acid releases and how to prevent them can facilitate better training and improve the future safety of workers, responders and the general public.