Why is Ammonia (NH₃) Gas Dangerous and How Can We Monitor It?
- Nguyen Nhut Quy
- Sep 26
- 6 min read
Ammonia (NH₃) is a colorless gas with a sharp, pungent odor that is both widely used and highly hazardous. It ranks among the most produced industrial chemicals in the world, primarily for fertilizer production, refrigeration, and a wide range of chemical processes. However, its massive scale of production comes with significant environmental impact. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), ammonia production directly emits more than 400 million metric tons of CO₂ per year, making it one of the largest industrial contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions.
At the same time, ammonia exposure in workplaces poses serious safety risks. Even at relatively low concentrations, NH₃ irritates the eyes, nose, and throat; higher levels can cause severe respiratory damage or even death. Ammonia is also highly corrosive, damaging equipment and infrastructure, while leaks in confined spaces such as cold storage facilities or livestock barns can escalate into life-threatening hazards.
For these reasons, continuous monitoring of NH₃ is not just a regulatory requirement but a critical safeguard for human health, equipment reliability, and environmental compliance. This article explores why ammonia gas is dangerous, where it poses the greatest risks, and how advanced wireless gas sensors from Daviteq provide an effective solution for real-world NH₃ monitoring.
Why Monitoring NH₃ is Critical
Ammonia is not only one of the most produced industrial chemicals but also one of the most hazardous when released into workplaces or the environment. Even at relatively low levels, NH₃ can harm human health, corrode equipment, and disrupt operations. What makes ammonia especially dangerous is how quickly concentrations can escalate from being barely detectable by smell to becoming life-threatening.
In food processing facilities, for example, a small refrigerant leak can rapidly raise ammonia concentrations above the OSHA legal limit of 50 ppm, forcing managers to shut down operations. In livestock barns, poor ventilation can push NH₃ levels past 25 ppm, directly affecting animal welfare and reducing milk yields in dairy cows. For operators in chemical and fertilizer plants, uncontrolled leaks may expose workers to concentrations that exceed emergency guidelines within minutes.
To illustrate how narrow the safety margin is, the table below summarizes recognized exposure thresholds for ammonia:
Concentration (ppm) | Standard / Health Effect | Exposure Context |
5 ppm | First perceptible odor detectable by humans | Odor threshold |
25 ppm | NIOSH REL (10-hour TWA) / AIHA ERPG-1: Mild, temporary effects after 1-hour exposure | Recommended exposure limit |
35 ppm | NIOSH STEL (15-minute limit) | Short-term exposure |
50 ppm | OSHA PEL (8-hour TWA) | Legal permissible limit |
150 ppm | AIHA ERPG-2: Serious irritation or discomfort that could limit ability to escape or take protective action after 1-hour exposure | Emergency guideline |
300 ppm | IDLH (Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health), 30-minute exposure limit | Extreme hazard |
1500 ppm | AIHA ERPG-3: Life-threatening health effects or risk of death after 1-hour exposure | Critical hazard |
This progression shows how little room there is for error. Workers may smell ammonia at just 5 ppm, but discomfort and health effects begin at levels as low as 25–35 ppm. By 150 ppm, the ability to escape or take protective action is compromised. At 300 ppm and higher, conditions are immediately dangerous to life.
For facility managers, this means even minor leaks not only endanger staff but can also trigger costly downtime and maintenance. For farmers, elevated ammonia translates into reduced productivity and higher veterinary costs. These are risks no operation can afford to ignore.
That is why a robust monitoring system is essential. With wireless ammonia sensors, facilities can receive continuous in-time data and immediate alerts before concentrations reach critical thresholds - ensuring worker safety, protecting assets, and keeping operations compliant with international standards.
NH₃ in Food Processing & Cold Storage
In the food industry, ammonia is widely used as a refrigerant in cold storage and food processing facilities thanks to its high energy efficiency, low cost, and zero ozone depletion potential. However, these advantages come with serious risks when leaks occur.
A release of ammonia into confined spaces can have immediate consequences. At concentrations of just 25–50 ppm, workers may experience eye, nose, and throat irritation. Prolonged exposure increases the risk of severe respiratory damage, while higher levels become life-threatening, forcing emergency evacuations and costly operational shutdowns. Beyond health impacts, ammonia is corrosive, accelerating wear in refrigeration systems, damaging equipment, and driving up maintenance costs.
One of the greatest challenges for facility managers is that ammonia leaks are often invisible, and odor detection is unreliable. By the time the pungent smell is noticed, concentrations may already exceed safe exposure limits. This makes continuous monitoring of NH₃ levels not just a best practice but an operational necessity to protect both workers and valuable food inventories.
NH₃ in Agriculture & Livestock Farms
In agriculture and livestock farming, ammonia is not added intentionally but is instead generated from the decomposition of manure and animal waste. Poorly ventilated barns, slurry pits, or large-scale poultry houses often experience ammonia buildup, especially during warm and humid conditions.
At concentrations above 25 ppm, ammonia irritates the respiratory system of animals, leading to reduced feed intake, slower growth, and a higher incidence of disease. In dairy cows, excessive NH₃ exposure has been directly linked to lower milk yields. Poultry exposed to elevated levels often show increased stress, reduced egg production, and compromised immune systems. These effects not only harm animal welfare but also cut into farm profitability.
Ammonia also impacts farm workers. Prolonged exposure to NH₃ emissions in barns can cause eye irritation, coughing, and chronic respiratory issues, further highlighting the importance of proactive air quality management.
Traditional mitigation practices include increasing ventilation or frequent cleaning of animal housing when ammonia levels spike. However, because ammonia buildup is highly variable and can rise quickly in enclosed spaces, relying on manual checks or odor detection is insufficient. Effective farm management therefore depends on continuous monitoring of NH₃ levels, enabling timely action to protect both livestock productivity and worker health.
NH₃ in Fertilizer & Chemical Plants
Ammonia is a key raw material in the production of fertilizers, explosives, plastics, and synthetic fibers. Fertilizer plants, in particular, handle massive volumes of NH₃ stored in tanks and transported through pipelines. While ammonia is indispensable to these industries, it is also one of the most hazardous chemicals to manage at scale.
Leaks or accidental releases in fertilizer or chemical plants can escalate quickly. Even a small failure in valves, storage vessels, or transfer lines may expose workers to concentrations that exceed emergency safety thresholds within minutes. Beyond the immediate threat to human health, uncontrolled ammonia emissions can corrode equipment, contaminate nearby soil and water, and trigger large-scale evacuations.
Industrial incidents involving ammonia are not only dangerous but also extremely costly. A single release can force regulatory shutdowns, environmental fines, and long-term reputational damage for the company involved. For this reason, strict compliance with OSHA, NIOSH, and international safety standards is mandatory — and continuous monitoring is the foundation for ensuring compliance.
In these high-stakes environments, relying on periodic manual checks is insufficient. Effective ammonia management requires early detection of leaks and continuous tracking of concentration levels to prevent small issues from becoming catastrophic events.
Solutions for Controlling and Monitoring NH₃
To address the challenges of detecting ammonia leaks early and maintaining safe operations, facilities require a monitoring solution that is both reliable and easy to deploy. Daviteq provides a specialized wireless gas sensor that combines high accuracy with long-term durability, making it well-suited for industrial and agricultural environments where NH₃ is a critical concern.
By integrating the WSLRW-G4 into existing LoRaWAN networks, operators gain continuous in-time data on NH₃ concentrations without the complexity of wired systems. The result is enhanced worker safety, compliance with international standards, reduced maintenance costs, and greater peace of mind for managers in charge of critical facilities.
Ammonia (NH₃) is a chemical that plays a vital role in global industries — from fertilizer production to food processing and livestock farming. Yet, its benefits come with significant risks: health hazards for workers, reduced productivity in agriculture, corrosion of industrial equipment, and the constant threat of costly shutdowns or accidents.
As the exposure thresholds show, the margin between detectability and life-threatening concentrations of NH₃ is dangerously narrow. This makes continuous monitoring not optional, but essential. By deploying Daviteq’s WSLRW-G4 LoRaWAN Gas Detecting Sensor, organizations gain the ability to monitor ammonia levels in-time, ensure regulatory compliance, protect human and animal health, and safeguard critical infrastructure.
In an era where safety and efficiency must go hand in hand, adopting advanced IoT-based monitoring is the smartest step forward.
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