Sodium hydroxide, also called caustic soda, has no odor and can be a solid or a liquid. As a solid, it is a white substance that can be in the form of lumps, sticks, pellets and chips. It quickly absorbs carbon dioxide and water from the air. When near moisture, this chemical can burn or eat away at animal and vegetable tissue and some metal. It mixes easily with water, alcohol and glycerol. It generates heat while dissolving. A primary function of the chemical is to neutralize acids, but it is also used to make soap, drinking water and paper.
Sodium hydroxide can burn or eat away at any part of the body that it contacts. Breathing its dust or mist causes mild or serious effects, depending on the amount of exposure. Effects may include sneezing, sore throat or runny nose. Severe inflammation of the lungs can occur.
The substance is extremely corrosive and is capable of causing severe burns with deep ulceration and permanent scarring. It can penetrate to deeper layers of skin and corrosion will continue until removed. The severity of injury depends on the concentration of the solution and the duration of exposure. Burns may not be immediately painful; onset of pain may be delayed minutes to hours. Several human studies and case reports describe the corrosive effects of it.
Then, what should you do if your skin exposed to sodium hydroxide?
The first thing you should do is get away from the spill. If you cannot move yourself, yell for help. Once you are in a safe area, brush any of the solid chemical off your body, but only do so with another object or while wearing protective clothing. Try to keep this in a separate, confined area. You should then take off any clothing that has been contaminated and thoroughly wash any infected skin areas with water for at least 15 minutes.
If your eyes may be infected, flush them with clean water or saline for at least 30 minutes. If you wear contacts, take them out unless doing so would further damage your eyes.
When arriving at the hospital, go directly to the Emergency Room entrance. Tell the nurse in charge that you have a NaOH burn and ask to be taken directly to the burn unit. Inform the medical staff of any pertinent information, such as the strength of the sodium hydroxide solution and length of exposure.
There is no antidote for sodium hydroxide itself, and there really is no lab test that will say whether you have infected any other parts of your body such as your lungs. General laboratory tests can be done, however, to determine if organs are damaged. The medical staff at the hospital should refer you to your regular practicing physician for follow-up visits.
Therefore, you should avoid breathing, breathing and touching sodium hydroxide while using it.
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