Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I was cleaning the back outdoor stairs of my house, where neighborhood cats frequently urinate and the ammonia smell was strong. I was back there cleaning for about 10 minutes. Can a short exposure to high levels of ammonia from drying cat urine cause any long-term health effects, especially neurotoxicity? I feel fine with no symptoms, maybe a slight headache.
Please help.
Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com
I understand your concern.
Ammonia can be absorbed through the inhalation route through the lungs. If this happens, it produces bad breath, lung irritation, and lung secretion (cough). It can not stay or settle in the lungs or blood. It will come out immediately after a few breaths.
Neurotoxicity happens only if a high dose of ammonia is continuously administered; it accumulates in the blood and the liver fails to detoxify, then it enters the brain to do damage. We have enough detoxifying and elimination mechanisms; hence, neurotoxicity usually occurs only in liver failure cases. In your case, you are safe, and there is no need to worry. The urine attracts bacteria; hence, clean the area with disinfectants.
Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.
I hope this helps.
Regards.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you very much for your medical expertise. I am relieved to know that this is not a serious threat to my health. I have a quick follow-up question:
I am trying to prevent the neighborhood cats from peeing around my back steps, but in the meantime, the smell of urine and spray is drifting into my studio apartment. Early this morning I could smell a light urine smell, and had no choice, but to go back to bed. Could there be any health problems, especially neurotoxic, from the few days of breathing this smell while I am attempting to clean it up?
Please help.
Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com
I understand your concern.
Ammonia is volatile, hence diluted in the open air circulation. The smell you feel is not just due to ammonia, it is due to other elements like urea, sodium, and most importantly microbes (and their metabolic products or released gases). So, they are not ammonia. I do not think that diluted ammonia can cause neurotoxic. So, you can clean the area to remove the smell.
Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.
I hope this helps.
Regards.
Thank you.
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
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