ATSDR - Toxic Substances - Ammonia
Skip directly to search Skip directly to A to Z list Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options

Ammonia

CAS ID #: 7664-41-7

Affected Organ Systems: Dermal (Skin), Ocular (Eyes), Respiratory (From the Nose to the Lungs)

Cancer Effects: None

Chemical Classification: Inorganic substances

Summary: Ammonia occurs naturally and is produced by human activity. It is an important source of nitrogen which is needed by plants and animals. Bacteria found in the intestines can produce ammonia.

Ammonia is a colorless gas with a very distinct odor. This odor is familiar to many people because ammonia is used in smelling salts, many household and industrial cleaners, and window-cleaning products.

Ammonia gas can be dissolved in water. This kind of ammonia is called liquid ammonia or aqueous ammonia. Once exposed to open air, liquid ammonia quickly turns into a gas.

Ammonia is applied directly into soil on farm fields, and is used to make fertilizers for farm crops, lawns, and plants. Many household and industrial cleaners contain ammonia.

Community Members 

Community Members
  • ToxFAQs™

    Fact sheet that answers the most frequently asked questions about a contaminant and its health effects.

  • Public Health Statement

    Summary about a hazardous substance taken from Chapter One of its respective ATSDR Toxicological Profile.

  • Intel New Mexico

    The Intel Corporation manufactures 12 inch semiconductor wafers at its Rio Rancho New Mexico facility at 4100 Sara Road. This facility is located approximately 15 miles north of Albuquerque near commercial and residential areas of Rio Rancho and Corrales. Intel Corporation started Rio Rancho operations in 1980. Intel’s Rio Rancho facility is the largest private industrial employer in New Mexico and includes more than four million square feet of manufacturing and office space. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) estimates that approximately 12,011 people live within 1 mile of the site.

  • Emergency Responders 

    Emergency Responders
  • Medical Management Guidelines (MMG) for Acute Chemical Exposure

    Publication intended to aid emergency department physicians and other emergency healthcare professionals who manage acute exposures resulting from chemical incidents.

  • Toxicological and Health Professionals 

    Toxicological and Health Professionals
  • Toxicological Profile

    Succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects information for a hazardous substance.

  • ToxGuide (PDF, 58KB)

    Quick reference guide providing information such as chemical and physical properties, sources of exposure, routes of exposure, minimal risk levels, children's health, and health effects for a substance.

  • Priority List of Hazardous Substances

    Prioritization of substances based on a combination of their frequency, toxicity, and potential for human exposure at National Priorities List (NPL) sites.

  • Minimal Risk Levels (MRL)

    The MRL is an estimate of the daily human exposure to a hazardous substance that is likely to be without appreciable risk of adverse, non-cancer health effects over a specified duration of exposure. The information in this MRL serves as a screening tool to help public health professionals decide where to look more closely to evaluate possible risk of adverse health effects from human exposure.

  • Top of Page

    Contact Us:
    • Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
      4770 Buford Hwy NE
      Atlanta, GA 30341
    • 800-CDC-INFO
      (800-232-4636)
      TTY: (888) 232-6348
    • New Hours of Operation
      8am-8pm ET/Monday-Friday
      Closed Holidays
    • cdcinfo@cdc.gov
    USA.gov: The U.S. Government's Official Web PortalDepartment of Health and Human Services
    Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30341
    Contact CDC: 800-232-4636 / TTY: 888-232-6348

    A-Z Index

    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    5. E
    6. F
    7. G
    8. H
    9. I
    10. J
    11. K
    12. L
    13. M
    14. N
    15. O
    16. P
    17. Q
    18. R
    19. S
    20. T
    21. U
    22. V
    23. W
    24. X
    25. Y
    26. Z
    27. #