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Dangers/Toxicity of inhaling muriatic acid fumes

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Q. My boyfriend was working on the roof of a private home, along with a/c techs. He was about ten feet away from the a/c tech, when the tech sprayed something in the air. My boyfriend immediately covered his eyes. This was last June. He immediately received burns to his face, scalp, chest and arms. Three weeks later he noticed an ulceration on his arm. He has since been seeing a pulmonologist, dermatologist, rheumatologist. He has only 38 percent of his lungs left. He has severe chest, stomach and head pain. He has episodes of black outs, anxiety attacks and dermatitis and severe shortness of breath. He cannot go out in the heat or sun for any extended periods of time or he gets very sick with stomach pain, severe perspiration, headaches, weakness, nausea. He may have to have a lung transplant because of the carelessness of the a/c tech. The company that sprayed him will not divulge what the tech sprayed in the air.

I would love for anyone to comment in order to help us. We are suing the company.

DEANA D [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Florida
March 27, 2012

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Q. Hi,

I have this ex of mine, whom I suspect is stalking me. I am not at all scared but what bothers me most is the fact that I am a mum of 3 wonderful daughters ... am scared of their safety. Now, today my kids and I jump into the car to drive shopping. I turn it on and this awful smell exhumes from the ventilator(?) ... our eyes become watery and stinging; we couldn't breathe; we have headaches and get kind of dizzy. At first I thought it was just urine ... because somehow it had that smell, but now am not so sure!

Could it be acid and if yes, what happens to a car when you do so and how life-threatening is it? I went to a car wash and the smell is gone ... but somehow, I still feel dizzy and weak when I am in it? Should I worry?

Lucy

Lucy W
- Hamburg Germany
October 9, 2012

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Q. I wish I had read these posts earlier. I cleaned my kitchen floors with muriatic acid and now my stainless appliances look terrible. Is there a solution to fix the stainless? I'm also worried about my lungs now, after seeing what it's done to my appliances!

Marilyn King
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
November 2, 2012

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Q. I was cleaning our toilet when I mixed bleach and hydrochloric acid together in a pail of water and brushed our toilet floor. I accidentally inhaled the fumes from the chemicals and started having tight lungs and sore throat etc. I was having the usual symptoms of inhaling some fumes. I splash myself with water and went to have fresh air. After 2 hours I felt a bit better but still having a little dizziness, and when I cough my lungs seem to tighten a bit. Furthermore, I feel weak (like coming out from a fever).
What should I do/take in order these effects will go away? Will I have future complications/problems concerning these problems?
Thank you!

James chan
- philippines
February 17, 2013

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Q. Hi,
I am 8 weeks' pregnant and, while cleaning washroom, I accidentally had an exposure of the mixture of chlorine and muriatic acid. I was already an asthmatic and, after the exposure of the above-mentioned acids, I started coughing and felt congestion and pain in my chest, my heart rate increased and I felt nausea. I used inhaler and a cough syrup and felt a little better but even after 12 hours I wasn't feeling ok. I feel pain in chest.What should I Do? Can the exposure of these two acids for 4 to 5 minutes cause harm 2 my lungs or respiratory tract? Or the fetus in my womb? I will be thankful for your response.

Saira Ijaz
- Lahore, Pakistan
January 15, 2014

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!! My brother in-law's sister was hospitalized for having difficulty breathing and weakened for more than 3 months; the doctors did not find any reason of illness. When they transferred her to another hospital to ask for second opinion they found out that her lungs had been damaged by inhaling the fumes from muriatic acid while cleaning the bathroom with the door closed. Sadly it was too late when they diagnosed the problem; she already had a multiple organ failure and died in the fourth month. So I suggest anyone who uses muriatic acid should take precautions and know the proper handling of this deadly chemical.

rey bantiguen
- pangasinan, philippines
February 26, 2014

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Q. Okay so I was cleaning our bathroom yesterday and thought that I'd add muriatic acid and it was my first time using it so I didn;'t know how strong it would be. When I poured a good amount in the bowl and I suddenly inhaled it, it was really strong but I ran out as soon as possible. I think I did cough but no phlegm was involved, and my throat is dry and my nose is a little numb(?) But I'm still a little worried. Should I consult a doctor or?

Mary Nguyen
- Baguio City Benguet Philippines
May 17, 2014

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Q. I was wondering how serious this can be: I was working in a unit where my lead guy did not know and we were not told about respirator in this unit. But after the fact I inhaled some acid; it burned my eyes, nose & back of my throat immediately coming in contact with it. I was coughing so bad that I thought I was going to puke; then not much longer after that my heart rate increased thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest, then came chest pains and felt like I had peel or something in the back of my throat that just wouldn't come up. Still having chest pains here and there. Is this serious -- do I need to be checked out? Told my supervisor what happened but he didn't say anything he just turned around and finished his cigarette because I asked what was in that unit even though we spotted the sign and my lead guy told me: "it's just water, man". That's why I asked my boss because I know water never made me feel like that.

Brad waits
- sulfur, Louisiana
October 9, 2014

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December 8, 2014

I was cleaning our toilet when I mixed bleach and hydrochloric acid together in a pail of water and brushed our toilet floor. I accidentally inhaled the fumes from the chemicals and started having tight lungs and sore throat etc. I was having the usual symptoms of inhaling some fumes. I splash myself with water and went to have fresh air. After 2 hours I felt a bit better but still having a little dizziness, and when I cough my lungs seem to tighten a bit. Furthermore, I feel weak (like coming out from a fever).
What should I do/take in order these effects will go away? Will I have future complications/problems concerning these problems?
Thank you!

Ajit Sharma
- Kanpur, UP, India

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Q. Good evening, I was cleaning my client's bathroom. Unbeknown to me she had put Clorox in the toilet. I put Lysol toilet bowl cleaner in the toilet and immediately could smell the fumes. I left the bathroom and decided to let it air a bit and in the meantime I sprayed Easy off oven cleaner ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] in the oven to clean it later. Suddenly my chest tighten up so hard and the pain was unbelievable. my client is a nurse and she immediately gave me an aspirin and 2 Tylenol with a glass of water. The pain subsided. Do you think there was any major damage. I will NEVER AGAIN clean with Tilex, Clorox, or anything like Easy-off oven cleaner without covering my nose/mouth and eyes with goggles. I need to know if you think I should use an inhaler to clear my lungs or anything like that. Many thanks.

Aishah Muhammad
- Hamilton, Bermuda
January 26, 2015

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Q. Hello. Last week I was pouring muriatic acid into a 9x54 tank used for water softeners, in order to break up a calcite buildup within the tank. I wore a respirator, and safety glasses. As I began pouring the acid down a funnel and into the tank, I noticed fumes and smoke rising out of the tank, then before I knew it, my right eye began to sting. I immediately stopped what I was doing, removed the double layer of surgical gloves, and ran inside to wash my eye out. I did so for less than five minutes, throughout the afternoon, periodically, I would return to sink to wash my eye out. Now, it has almost been a week, and my right eye lid continues to have a minor twitch, on top of that, my right eye continues to feel irritated, and dry. It doesn't feel the same as before the acid incident. I can tell there is a difference in the way my eye feels, however, there is no visible difference in my vision. I am sure this has occurred before, and it is not life threatening; also, it was only a minor exposure, and the most severe symptom is just agitation in my eye, and it continues to feel aggravated. Also, I am emotionally distressed because, hey, it's my eye! Other than seeing a doctor, I would like some advice, and perhaps some comforting words, that my eye will be okay. I am also a hypochondriac.

Jordan scott
- jacksonville florida united states
July 22, 2015

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Q. I inhaled the fumes for more than 20 minutes. I'm feeling very uneasy in breathing; even my throat was having burning sensation. What to do? Please answer.

Chaitan ya varma
- Hyderabad,telangana, India
July 28, 2015

Q. Plumber had cleaned the water tank with muriatic acid and my water purifier system was directly connected to the pipe line.
We have consumed the purified water and my wife is six pregnant. Will it be harmful for wife and pregnancy baby?

Sujoy Kumar
- kolkata, west bengal , India
September 8, 2015

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Q. I decided to use Lysol toilet bowl cleaner to clean my fridge. I wasn't wearing gloves or a mask because I had no clue about the dangers of this. It is couple hours later and I feel strange and breathing heavy...

Melissa cross
- Lexington Kentucky USA
September 26, 2015

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Q. I mixed 1 Part Muriatic acid to 2 parts of water. I poured the acid into a spray bottle than filled it with water. I used this mixture to remove wax from my porcelain floor. I sprayed sections of the floor and let it stand 15 minutes then wiped off with a sponge. There was about 8 sections and it took me about 4 hours. I had the windows open as well as a fan blowing. All through this procedure I wore a dust mask. In between sections I would go outside and breath fresh air. The next morning it felt like I was coming down with the flu; my body was aching a little and my throat was a little itchy. Then my head started getting stuffed up like a sinus infection; then my sinuses started to drain and I was blowing my nose constantly. Now My head feels a little tight with a slight headache and I have a little cough and my throat is itchy. Would this have anything to do with the fumes or is it a head cold?

Elwin Moody
- Stanton, California USA
November 11, 2015

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