Is battery acid dangerous? It is one of the most important questions you ask when planning to have a battery. Primarily, you are justified if you are concerned about this as you can see that batteries are everywhere, from your homes, offices, and in the cars, you travel in all day.
Besides that, battery leakage is common, and you should be able to handle it properly and be prepared for it in advance. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that you know about the aspects of battery acid and find out if it is dangerous.
Not only is the safety of the electrical system of your house important, but you also need to make sure that battery acid or any other element does not pose any harm to anyone. For that, you need to see whether battery acid is dangerous or not.
If you have the same question in your mind, then you are just about to get your answer as here in this article, we are going to talk about battery acid, what it is made up of and whether it can harm us or not.
Battery acid
With different types of batteries, you see different battery acids being used. The most common types among all are household batteries that use alkaline acid and car batteries that use sulphuric acid. However, both types of acid have health risks to some extent, and the exposure should be taken seriously and seek medical help instantly before it turns out to be a bigger issue.
Typically, batteries are safe to use when intact; however, they may cause harm in case of a leak. Usually, the acid is diluted with water to get a certain level of concentration as per the battery specifications. No matter the level of concentration, the battery acid is dangerous, and you should be aware of the risk in order to protect yourself from it.
Getting to know the dangers of battery acid will allow you to make timely decisions, and it will also help you in better handling of the batteries.
Let’s now talk about the dangers you may face and what you can do to minimize the effect.
Potential health effects of battery acid
It doesn’t matter how the battery leaks, the battery acid is dangerous and may cause severe health risks to humans and as well as animals.
Chemical burns
If you come in contact with battery acid, it may cause chemical burns; however, it might not show up right away, but the symptoms will tell you about it. The symptoms include irritation, burning, redness, blisters, and blackened skin. It needs to be taken care of as soon as possible; otherwise, it may cause a serious infection.
Respiratory problems
No matter the type of battery acid, if you are exposed to it, it may cause breathing problems. Battery acid also produces fumes, and inhaling it is directly going to affect you in one way or another. Difficulty breathing, dizziness, irritation of the nose and throat, tightness in your chest are a few of the symptoms of being exposed to battery acid.
Save yourself from breathing the fumes and treat it appropriately; continuous exposure may lead to lung infection or serious medical emergency.
Damage to your eyes
Eyes are sensitive, and if they get exposed to the fumes of battery acid, it is going to be corrosive and will cause redness, irritation, blurred vision, and soreness. In case it is direct contact, or the exposure is severe, it will result in severe tissue burns, which will lead to total blindness. Seek medical attention immediately if ever exposed to battery acid and feel irritation in the eyes.
Ingestion and poisoning
If by any chance, you ingest battery acid or inhale for a long time, you will start feeling abdominal pain, and your blood pressure might also drop. Do not wait for a sign; immediately rush to a medical emergency or call a physician. It can collapse the circulatory system if not treated on time, and this may lead to death.
Safety precautions
As you can see, the consequences of getting exposed to battery acid are dangerous, and thus you should be careful about it when working with batteries. Following safety precautions is the best way to prevent battery leakage and to keep yourself safe from battery acid hazards.
When using the battery, you should only use it for its stated purpose. This way, not only will you get the best results, but also it helps in preventing the leakage or emitting vapors.
Keep the battery in a cool, dry, and ventilated area so that it does not get affected by outside temperature. Get rid of old batteries and dispose of them adequately.
Do not try to recharge a battery that clearly says it’s not rechargeable; you will be the sole responsible for consequences. Plus, you should not mix or connect two different types or brands of batteries as it may also cause leakage and other problems.
In case you get exposed to the acid despite following the safety precautions, handle the situation properly. If it is an alkaline battery, rinse the affected area with water immediately and then get yourself checked out by the specialist. If you are affected by sulphuric battery acid, using water may further cause damage to the skin; for this, wash off the area with a solution of warm, soapy water; after that, get yourself treated by the experts.
However, if the case is severe, or if there is an explosion, call for help immediately and do not go near the battery.
Conclusion
Battery acid is dangerous, and you can see that it may cause a serious health risk. Though most cases are not severe and can be attended with first aid measures, proper handling of batteries is required. Do not unnecessarily get in contact with battery acid and keep yourself at a distance. If there persists any issue with the battery, get it checked by professionals.