What do the acids formed by refrigerant decomposition do to a person exposed to them?
Safety · EPA 608 Type I. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
Decomposition products of refrigerants at high temperatures, and safe handling.
The question
What do the acids formed by refrigerant decomposition do to a person exposed to them?
- They have no effect at normal concentrations
- They only cause drowsiness, like an anesthetic
- Irritate and burn the eyes, skin and lungsCorrect answer
- They only affect the hearing
Why “Irritate and burn the eyes, skin and lungs” is correct
Hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids are corrosive. Breathing them or getting them on skin or in the eyes can cause serious burns, which is why decomposition must be avoided.
Source: EPA: Test Topics
Why the other answers are wrong
- They have no effect at normal concentrations — Hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids are harmful at the levels decomposition can produce.
- They only cause drowsiness, like an anesthetic — The acids are corrosive, not just sleep-inducing.
- They only affect the hearing — Corrosive acids attack tissue they touch, especially the eyes and lungs.
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