This fact sheet introduces cost effective options to prevent and mitigate ammonia releases. This information is intended as general guidance only. It is not a substitute for any applicable local, state or federal regulations. In Alaska, anhydrous ammonia is one of the most prevalent extremely hazardous substances. Ammonia is primarily used as a commercial refrigerant and is found at seafood processing facilities throughout Alaska.
Anhydrous ammonia is a colorless gas with a distinctive odor.
Ammonia is primarily a respiratory toxicant that can cause lung irritation, and, in higher concentrations, death. The risk to community populations associated with ammonia is substantial. According to the State and Regional Hazards Profile, there are 101 facilities in Alaska that use or store over 600 tons of ammonia at any one time, excluding the urea plant in Kenai. Based on population information, people living near 97 of these facilities could be affected by a release. Anhydrous ammonia is one of the ten hazardous chemicals most commonly involved in a release, AND the second most likely to result in death or human injury due to a release.