LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Hydrochloric Acid: Exposure
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On an environmental spectrum of 0 - 3 Hydrochloric acid registers 0.7. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to the environment and 0 a negligible hazard. Factors that are taken into account to obtain this ranking include the extent of the material's toxic or poisonous nature and/or its lack of toxicity, and the measure of its ability to remain active in the environment and whether it accumulates in living organisms. It does not take into exposure to the substance. Environmental exposure is reflected in the NPI rank for this substance (see comparative data below). A substance that scores highly as an environmental hazard is oxides of nitrogen at 3.0 and one of the lower scores is carbon monoxide at 0.8.
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Hydrochloric acid is corrosive to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. Skin contact may produce severe burns, ulceration, and scarring. Short-term inhalation exposure may cause coughing, hoarseness, inflammation and ulceration of the respiratory tract, chest pain, and pulmonary edema. Health effects following low level exposure may subside shortly after the person is moved to fresh air, but exposure to higher levels can cause life-long injury.
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* Hydrochloric acid is corrosive to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure may cause coughing, hoarseness, inflammation and ulceration of the respiratory tract, chest pain, and pulmonary edema in humans. Acute oral exposure may cause corrosion of the mucous membranes, esophagus, and stomach, with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea reported. Dermal contact may produce severe burns, ulceration, and scarring.
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There is little human information on long-term exposure to hydrochloric acid. A single, high-level exposure to hydrogen chloride gas or airborne hydrochloric acid may cause long-term airways hypersensitivity. Long-term exposure may cause dental erosion. In general, long-term skin contact with low concentrations of corrosive materials can cause dry, red, cracked skin (dermatitis).
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