What is sulphuric acid?

Sulphuric acid is a clear, colourless or brown, oily liquid that can be highly corrosive.

What is sulphuric acid used for?

Sulphuric acid is used in many industries. For example, it is used in the production of fertilisers, rubber, other acids, detergents, dyes, some pharmaceuticals and in oil refining.

How does sulphuric acid get into the environment?

Apart from industrial and agricultural processes, burning fossil fuels releases sulphur dioxide which can react with water in air to form sulphuric acid. This contributes to "acid-rain" which can cause environmental damage.

How could I be exposed to sulphuric acid?

At home, people may be exposed to sulphuric acid as it present in some household cleaning products.

If there is sulphuric acid in the environment will I have any adverse health effects?

The presence of sulphuric acid in the environment does not always lead to exposure. Clearly, in order for it to cause any adverse health effects you must come into contact with it. You may be exposed by breathing, eating, or drinking the substance or by skin contact. Following exposure to any chemical, the adverse health effects you may encounter depend on several factors, including the amount to which you are exposed (dose), the way you are exposed, the duration of exposure, the form of the chemical and if you were exposed to any other chemicals.

Strong solutions of sulphuric acid are highly corrosive and can cause burns to all parts of the body that they touch. Dilute solutions may cause irritation to the eyes and skin.

Can sulphuric acid cause cancer?

Sulphuric acid or its solutions are not classified as carcinogens. However, long term occupational exposure to mists containing mixtures of inorganic acid vapours (such as hydrochloric acid) that include sulphuric acid can cause an increased risk of cancer of the larynx.

Does sulphuric acid affect children or damage the unborn child?

If children breathe or ingest or touch sulphuric acid they will have similar effects as in adults such as burns to the hand or mouth for example.

Sulphuric acid is unlikely to cause harm to the unborn child if the mother is exposed. This is because sulphuric acid causes toxicity at the point of contact only and rapidly breaks down on contact with body tissue. Sulphuric acid is not known to damage the unborn child as it does not easily go from the mother to the child.

If sulphuric acid is used in car batteries, how should they be safely disposed of?

You should contact your local authority for advice on where to dispose of old car batteries; please do not dump them as they pose a risk to children and animals. They should be disposed of at a proper waste disposal site.

What should I do if I am exposed to sulphuric acid?

You should remove yourself from the source of exposure.

If you have got sulphuric acid on your skin, remove soiled clothing, wash the affected area with lukewarm water and soap for at least 10 – 15 minutes and seek medical advice.

If you have got sulphuric acid in your eyes, remove contact lenses, irrigate the affected eye with lukewarm water for at least 10 – 15 minutes and seek medical advice.

If you have inhaled or ingested sulphuric acid seek medical advice.