Hydrogen Chloride

Overview

CAS No. 7647-01-0

Hydrogen chloride (HCl) is a colorless to slightly yellow gas with a pungent odor. Hydrogen chloride can irritate the skin, nose, eyes, throat, and larynx. Exposure to liquid hydrogen chloride may cause frostbite. Workers may be harmed from exposure to hydrogen chloride. The level of harm depends upon the dose, duration, and work being done.

Hydrogen chloride is used in many industries. It’s used to clean, pickle, and electroplate metals, tan leather, and refine and produce a wide variety of products.  Some examples of workers at risk of being exposed to hydrogen chloride include the following:

• Chemical workers in plants that use it to produce other chemicals
• Factory workers in plants where metals are pickled
• Workers in food processing plants
• Factory workers who manufacture dyes and fertilizers
• Factory workers in the rubber and textile industries

NIOSH recommends that employers use Hierarchy of Controls to prevent injuries.  If you work in an industry that uses hydrogen chloride, please read chemical labels and the accompanying Safety Data Sheets for hazard information. Visit NIOSH’s page on Managing Chemical Safety in the Workplace to learn more about controlling chemical workplace exposures.

The following resources provide information about occupational exposure to hydrogen chloride. Useful search terms for hydrogen chloride include “anhydrous hydrogen chloride” “aqueous hydrogen chloride,” and “hydrochloric acid.”

NIOSH Chemical Resources

Related NIOSH Resources

• NIOSHTIC-2 search results for hydrogen chloride—NIOSHTIC-2 is a searchable database of worker safety and health publications, documents, grant reports, and journal articles supported in whole or in part by NIOSH.
• NIOSH Worker Health Study Summaries—NIOSH conducts research to prevent illnesses and injuries in the workplace. The NIOSH Worker Notification Program notifies workers and other stakeholders about the findings of these research studies.
• Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) Value Profile: Hydrogen Chloride—NIOSH reviews relevant scientific data and researches methods for developing IDLH values.

Selected Publications

•  A summary of health hazard evaluations: issues related to occupational exposure to fire fighters 1990-2001—DHHS (NIOSH) No. 2004-115.

Related Resources

• ATSDR Medical Management Guidelines (MMG): Hydrogen Chloride
• ATSDR ToxFAQs: Hydrogen Chloride
• EPA Chemistry Dashboardexternal icon
• EPA Air Toxics: Hydrogen Chloridepdf iconexternal icon
• EPA Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs): Hydrogen Chlorideexternal icon
• EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS): Hydrogen Chlorideexternal icon
• NLM Hazardous Substance Data Bank: Hydrogen Chlorideexternal icon
• NLM Haz-Map: Hydrogen Chlorideexternal icon
• NLM Household Products Database: Hydrogen Chlorideexternal icon
• NLM Medline Plus: Hydrogen Chloride Poisoningexternal icon
• OSHA Hazard Communicationexternal icon
• OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Guidelines: Hydrogen Chlorideexternal icon
• OSHA Chemical Sampling Information: Hydrogen Chlorideexternal icon
• New Jersey Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets: Hydrogen Chloridepdf iconexternal icon

International Resources

• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS): Search results for hydrogen chlorideexternal icon
• European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): Hydrogen Chlorideexternal icon
• Gestis Substance Databaseexternal icon
• IARC Summary: Hydrochloric Acidexternal icon
• ILO International Chemical Safety Card: Hydrogen Chlorideexternal icon
• IPCS INCHEM: Search results for hydrogen chlorideexternal icon
• OECD Global Portal to Information on Chemical Substancesexternal icon
• UNEP OECD (SIDS): Hydrochloric Acidpdf iconexternal icon