NH3 is a chemical compound called ammonia, which is known to everyone. It is generally used in the production of organic substances such as pharmaceuticals, paints and plastics. Ammonia has a colorless and pungent odor. Ammonia gas is mostly used in the industry as the starting material for the production of nitrogen fertilizer, nitric acid and ammonium salts. It is also used as a base for obtaining some chemicals in laboratories. Furthermore, if pressure is applied to the ammonia gas at normal temperature, it can easily liquefy and the evaporation temperature rises. Based on these properties, ammonia gas is also used as a refrigerant gas in the industry.

The Dangerous Chemicals Regulation issued by the Ministry of Environment classifies ammonia gas as a hazardous substance. This regulation is to regulate the principles to prevent harmful chemicals from being harmful to the environment by controlling them and at the same time not to pose a danger to human health.

Ammonia is a toxic and flammable gas and may irritate the skin if it comes into contact with the human body. In addition, ammonia gas can easily ignite at low temperatures. If ammonia gas is inhaled, it may destroy the airways and the soft membranes of the lungs. Depending on the intensity of breathing, burning sensation in the lungs and throat, headache, shortness of breath and collapse may occur. Prolonged exposure to ammonia gas is a cause of death. It can also cause severe burns on the skin.

If ammonia gas is used in working environments, protective measures must be taken.

The effects of exposure to ammonia gas were determined as follows:

• 5 ppm is an uncomfortable odor
• 20-50 is the odor that can be noticed between ppm
• 50-100 ppm is non-hazardous to health
• 150-200 loses eyes between ppm and general discomfort begins, short-term exposure is not harmful
• 1700 ppm causes coughing and breathing disorders
• 2000-3000 is dangerous in ppm, exposure over one hour can result in death
• 5000-10000 ppm, edema occurs in the lungs, breathing with difficulty, danger of death
• 10000 ppm cause sudden death

According to standards, exposure at concentrations not exceeding 35 ppm is allowed for a maximum period of 15 minutes.

The occupational exposure limit in legal regulations and standards is accepted as average 8-25 ppm over an 50 hourly working day.

Occupational health and safety regulations make it necessary to measure the exposure of employees to a number of chemical substances in the workplace. For this purpose, some measurement, test and analysis studies should be performed by the enterprises. Ammonia (NH3) gas measurements should be made according to the field of activity of the enterprises. These measurements are carried out by authorized test and inspection institutions. During the measurements, legal regulations in force and standards published by domestic and foreign organizations are taken into consideration.

Just a little bit of information: when plants and animal corpses deteriorate and decompose, ammonia gas is formed and enters the air. Therefore, there is a slight proportion of ammonia gas in the air. In the body of humans and animals, the metabolism breaks down proteins and produces ammonia, which is excreted in the urine.