There are no reported cases of industrial workers ingesting sodium hydroxide solutions. Non-occupational ingestion has produced severe corrosive burns to the esophageal tissue, which has in some cases progressed to stricture formation. Should ingestion occur, severe pain; burning of the mouth, throat and esophagus; vomiting; diarrhea; collapse and possible death may result.
What are the long term health effects of exposure to sodium hydroxide solutions?
SKIN: Owing to its corrosive nature, repeated or prolonged skin contact would be expected to cause drying, cracking, and inflammation of the skin (dermatitis).
INHALATION: A worker, exposed for 2 hours daily over 20 years to mists from boiling a solution of sodium hydroxide in 2 large containers in a small room with inadequate ventilation, developed severe obstructive airway disease. It was concluded that the massive and prolonged exposure induced irritation and burns to the respiratory system eventually leading to the disease. The authors noted that chronic exposure had not previously been reported, probably since the strong and immediate irritation would normally deter workers from further exposure. Actual exposures to sodium hydroxide aerosols were not measured and the authors could not definitely exclude late onset asthma as a cause of the man's condition.
A report of workers exposed to sodium hydroxide aerosol for at least 16 months, was confounded by the presence of high concentrations of Stoddard solvent and other solvent vapours, as well as other chemicals.
There was no trend of increased mortality in relation to duration (up to 30 years) or intensity of exposure (0.5 mg/m3 to 1.5 mg/m3) among 291 workers exposed to sodium hydroxide dust during the production of flakes or beads of concentrated sodium hydroxide from chlorine cell effluent. This study is limited by the small population size.
Will sodium hydroxide solutions cause cancer?
Sodium hydroxide has been implicated as a cause of cancer of the esophagus in individuals who have ingested it. The cancer may develop 12 to 42 years after the ingestion incident. Similar cancers have been observed at the sites of severe thermal burns. These cancers may be due to tissue destruction and scar formation rather than the sodium hydroxide itself.
A case-control study reported an association between renal cancer and history of employment in the cell maintenance area of chlorine production. The major exposures in this work were presumed to be to asbestos and sodium hydroxide. An association was made between renal cancer and sodium hydroxide exposure. This study is limited by factors such as small numbers of exposed workers, multiple exposures, reliance on work histories and is not considered sufficiently reliable.
Will sodium hydroxide solutions cause any problems with my reproductive system?
There is no human or animal information available.
Will sodium hydroxide solutions cause effects on the fetus/unborn baby?
There is no human or animal information available.
Will sodium hydroxide solutions act in a synergistic manner with other materials (will its effects be more than the sum of the effects from the exposure to each chemical alone)?
No information available.
Is there potential for sodium hydroxide to build-up or accumulate in my body?
It does not accumulate.
OSH Answers Lists
