Kline Talks Field Application Safety
Published: Friday, February 28, 2025
A plume of anhydrous ammonia arose from a spreader that had been struck by a vehicle following too closely outside of Chicago. Farm women attending the Ag Women Engage event in Fort Wayne on Feb. 13 listened closely to the emergency call that inaccurately described the plume as smoke from a vehicle fire, thrusting responders into chaos.
"Of the 83 people who went to the hospital, 14 were admitted," said Noble County ag educator Anne Kline after pausing the footage. She noted that most of the admitted individuals were emergency responders who were ill-equipped to fight the noxious gas.
Kline was presenting about the dangers of anhydrous ammonia, a gas that is applied to farm fields to increase nitrogen levels in the soil. However, the substance is extremely dangerous and can cause severe injury or death if mishandled and released.
Anhydrous ammonia seeks water in its gaseous form. If farmers come into contact with it, they risk injury to their lungs, skin, eyes and brain, which all contain a large amount of moisture. Lungs are 80% water. Skin can contain anywhere from 30-65% water, and eyes and brains are 90% and 78% water, respectively. Other risks include cold damage, caustic burns and dehydration.
"Anhydrous ammonia is very basic," Kline said, explaining that its pH is 11. "When exposed, skin is reduced to a sticky, gooey substance the results are often disfiguring."
To treat wounds caused by the gas, water is key.
Kline showed videos of her outdoor presentations with anhydrous ammonia and its effects. The videos depicted her dipping a bovine eye and liver into the gas. The eye, once clear with a dark pupil, became cloudy and white. But, as she dipped the damaged organ into water, the pupil returned to full color. She said timing is crucial, as the more exposure to anhydrous ammonia, the worse the effects will be.
Kline also warned women to be gentle with people exposed to anhydrous ammonia, as the gas is typically kept cold. Its boiling point is minus 28 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything that comes into contact with it immediately freezes, including bodily tissue.
"What happens if you fold and freeze a liver and then try to smooth it out?" she asked. "Imagine if that were an arm."
She also uses the analogy of frozen hotdogs and fingers.
"The first thing you feel is the cold," she said. "A small amount of it becomes a lot of gas."
One cubic foot of anhydrous ammonia grows to over 800 cubic feet in its gaseous state.
Kline encourages farmers who apply anhydrous ammonia to take caution and make sure the tires are in good shape, the hoses are strong and out of the way, valves are properly maintained and 5 gallons of water are kept with the applicator at all times. Other precautions include unhooking the hose and turning off the valve and ensuring the tank levels are not overfull. She also encourages farmers to have a special gases respirator (with green filters) on hand in case of emergencies.
"I've seen too many farm accidents," Kline said. "Whatever you're doing, slow down."
Return to Top of Page