Ammonium hydroxide |

Last updated: 25/08/2025
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(Also known as: ammonia solution; aqua ammonia; ammonium hydroxyde) |
Ammonium hydroxide is an inorganic herbicide, fungicide and microbiocide.It is non-volatile and highly soluble in water. Ammonium hydroxide has a moderate mammalian toxicity and there is some risk of bioaccumulation. It is a recognised irritant. It is highly toxic to fish and moderately toxic to aquatic invertebrates. |
The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement. These hazard alerts do not take account of usage patterns or exposure, thus do not represent risk.
Environmental fate |
Ecotoxicity |
Human health |
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An inorganic herbicide, fungicide and microbiocide used as a general purpose sterilant |
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Coccidial oocysts; General bacteria |
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Surfaces; Building structures |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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Not approved |
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Expired |
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No UK approval for use as a plant protection agent |
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414) |
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Not approved |
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Not applicable |
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Expired |
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Not applicable |
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Yes |
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ATAustria |
BEBelgium |
BGBulgaria |
CYCyprus |
CZCzech Republic |
DEGermany |
DKDenmark |
EEEstonia |
ELGreece |
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  |
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ESSpain |
FIFinland |
FRFrance |
HRCroatia |
HUHungary |
IEIreland |
ITItaly |
LTLithuania |
LULuxembourg |
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LVLatvia |
MTMalta |
NLNetherlands |
PLPoland |
PTPortugal |
RORomania |
SESweden |
SISlovenia |
SKSlovakia |
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ISIceland |
NONorway |
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None |
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NH₄OH |
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[NH4+].[OH-] |
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No data |
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VHUUQVKOLVNVRT-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
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InChI=1S/H3N.H2O/h1H3;1H2 |
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Yes |
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Herbicide; Other substance |
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Microbiocide |
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Inorganic compound |
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- |
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- |
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Natural |
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As a fungicide it is a protectant, inhibiting fungal spores and pathogens from entering the host tissues |
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Ammonium hydroxide is found naturally in the air, water, soil, plants and naimals |
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Non-agricultural |
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Coccidial oocysts; General bacteria |
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Surfaces; Building structures |
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Not normally used in agriculture |
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1336-21-6 |
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215-647-6 |
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8013 |
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- |
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14923 |
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007-001-01-2 |
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35.05 |
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ammonium hydroxide |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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US GRAS |
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- |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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- |
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Colourless liquid |
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Current |
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- |
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- Cenik Chemicals UK
- Hawkins Inc. USA
- KMG Chemicals, Inc.
- HeGo Biotec GmbH
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- Ammonia Liquor
- Aqua Ammonia
- Technical Grade Ammonium Hydroxide
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Supplied as a liquid in various container sizes |
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Ammonium hydroxide is produced by dissolving ammonia gas into water, forming a weakly basic solution known as aqua ammonia. The process typically begins by cooling distilled water to enhance gas absorption, followed by introducing ammonia gas into the water using a gas absorption apparatus or sparger. This reaction is reversible and yields ammonium ions and hydroxide ions, resulting in ammonium hydroxide. |
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The GHG emissions from manufacturing ammonium hydroxide are primarily tied to the production of its key input: anhydrous ammonia, which is synthesised via the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process. This process has an estimated footprint of 1.8–2.0 kg CO₂e per kg of ammonia produced. |
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1000000 |
at 25 °C |
High |
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- |
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- |
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- |
- |
- |
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Decomposes before boiling |
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- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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- |
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2.19 X 10-03 |
Calculated |
- |
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-2.66 |
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Low |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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0.9 |
Q2 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source |
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- |
- |
- |
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1.00 X 10-10 |
Q2 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source |
Low volatility |
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4.09 X 10-12 |
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Non-volatile |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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0.1 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Non-persistent |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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0.1 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Non-persistent |
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- |
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- |
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Natural substance that rapidly disperses in the environment |
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As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below. |
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- |
Soil adsorption and mobility |
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None
Terrestrial ecotoxicology |
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350 |
Rat |
Moderate |
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0.024 |
R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source Lepomis macrochirus |
High |
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- |
- |
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< 5 |
Ceriodaphnia dubia |
Moderate |
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32 |
Daphnia magna |
Moderate |
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HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION |
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High (class III) |
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- |
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350 |
Rat |
Moderate |
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Carcinogen |
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Endocrine disruptor |
No data found |
A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; B0 B = DNA damage/repair (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; C0 C = Gene mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; D0 D = Genome mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; E0 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 0 = No data |
No data found |
Reproduction / development effects |
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor |
Neurotoxicant |
No data found |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
No data found |
Respiratory tract irritant |
Skin irritant |
Skin sensitiser |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
No data found |
Eye irritant |
Phototoxicant |
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✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
No data found |
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Toxic May cause corrosion to the esophagus and stomach with perforation and peritonitis May cause rapid lowering of blood pressure |
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Corrosive Not expected to auto-ignite; Not highly flammable |
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Health: H314 Environment: H400 |
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Not listed (Not listed) |
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ammonium hydroxide |
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hydroxyde d'ammonium |
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Ammoniumhydroxid |
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ammoniumhydroxid |
|
idrossido di ammonio |
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hidróxido de amonio |
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- |
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wodorotlenek amonu |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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Record last updated: |
25/08/2025 |
Contact: |
aeru@herts.ac.uk |
Please cite as: |
Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242 |