Acetic acid (ethanoic acid): Health effects
Description
Inhalation of acetic acid causes irritation to the nose, throat and lungs. It is a corrosive substance, where inhalation of concentrated vapour may cause serious damage to the linings of these organs and later, breathing difficulties may result. Sensitisation may result from repeated exposures.
Ingestion of this substance may cause severe corrosion of the mouth and gastrointestinal tract, leading to vomiting, diarrhoea, circulatory collapse, kidney failure and death.
Skin contact with concentrated solutions causes skin damage, indicated by pain, redness and blisters. Second degree burns may form after a few minutes of contact. Skin sensitisation is a rare consequence of exposure.
Direct eye contact with concentrated acetic acid results in redness and pain, and severe deep burns. Opacification (the process of becoming milky or opaque) of the eye, leading to blindness may result in the cornea of humans, with the severity of the injury not being apparent for a day or two after exposure. Long term exposure may cause erosion of dental enamel, bronchitis and eye irritation.
Entering the body
Acetic acid can enter the body by inhaling vapours or exposure of the vapours to the eyes. Exposure may also result from eating or drinking foods containing acetic acid or by skin contact.
Exposure
Exposure to acetic acid can result from breathing vapours, drinking solutions containing acetic acid or by contact with the skin and eyes.
Health guidelines
Workplace exposure:
Currently, the eight-hour time weighted average (TWA) exposure limit is 25 milligrams acetic acid per cubic metre of air. The 15-minute short term exposure limit (STEL) is 37 milligrams acetic acid per cubic metre of air.
Drinking water guidelines:
No drinking water guidelines have been established for acetic acid.
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