Context: Two persons died and several took ill in a major ammonia gas leakage at the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) unit at Prayagraj.

NH3

• A tri-hydroid of nitrogen (NH3), ammonia is a building block for ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) that is used in agriculture as a high-nitrogen fertiliser.
• Ammonia is stored for industrial use in liquid form under high pressure or in gaseous form at low temperature.

How ammonia gas affects the human body?

• Ammonia, even in moderate concentration, can cause irritation to eyes, skin, nose and throat.
• Ammonia, which is highly soluble in water, is found in soil, air, and water; it is naturally present in the body and secreted by the kidneys to neutralise excess acid.
• However, it is highly diluted when in the environment and does not affect the human body to a noticeable level.
• It is toxic and affects the lungs with a possibility of causing chemical pneumonitis — inflammation of the lung caused by aspirating or inhaling irritants.
• In simple terms, what happens in that instead of oxygen the person starts inhaling ammonia, causing oxygen deficiency.,

What are main uses of ammonia?

• Ammonia is critical in the manufacturing of fertilizers, and is one of the largest-volume synthetic chemicals produced in the world.
• More than 80 per cent of ammonia made is consumed in the manufacturing of fertilizer, and most of the remainder goes into the production of formaldehyde.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/iffco-gas-leak-how-dangerous-is-ammonia-7118764/

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