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At normal environmental conditions, pure ammonia is a colourless, pungent-smelling, caustic (corrosive) gas. The harm caused by ammonia in water bodies is more serious, because it is very toxic to aquatic organisms. Low concentrations of ammonia in soil are natural and actually essential for plant nutrition.
People also ask, is ammonia harmful to humans?
Ammonia is corrosive. Exposure to high concentrations of ammonia in air causes immediate burning of the eyes, nose, throat and respiratory tract and can result in blindness, lung damage or death. Inhalation of lower concentrations can cause coughing, and nose and throat irritation.
In this way, does ammonia break down?
Ammonia. The human body makes ammonia when the body breaks down foods containing protein into amino acids and ammonia, then converting the ammonia into urea.
Ammonia is very toxic to the brain and new research shows why: the glial cells ability to remove potassium is perturbed. People with impaired liver function will, however, be unable to rid their body of ammonia fast enough. The result is excessive concentrations of ammonia in the blood.