Oxalic acid is natural and safe but bad in high quantities. Like looking into the sun. Sunshine is necessary but too much will "mess y...
Oxalic acid is natural and safe but bad in high quantities. Like looking into the sun. Sunshine is necessary but too much will "mess you up". And so it is with Oxalic Acid. Powerful stuff. Be very very careful.
Health Factors
Corrosive to tissue... When ingested, causing sore throat, burning sensation, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, passing stools with blood, drowsiness, loss of feeling in fingers and toes. Oxalic acid removes calcium from the blood causing kidney damage as the calcium is removed from the blood in the form of calcium oxalate. The calcium oxalate then obstructs the kidney tubules.
Harmful if inhaled... Can cause severe irritation and burns to nose, throat, and respiratory tract. Irritations of mucous membranes, eye discomfort and burns, blue colouration of lips, fingernails or skin, shock, collapse, convulsions, kidney damage, pulmonary oedema.
Toxic... May cause burns, nausea, gastroenteritis, vomiting, shock and convulsions. May cause renal damage, as evidenced by blood in urine. Estimated fatal dose for humans is 5 to 15 grams.
Skin Contact... Can cause severe irritation and skin burns. May be absorbed through the skin.
Eye Contact... Oxalic acid is an extreme eye irritant by virtue of being corrosive and physically abrasive.
Chronic Exposure... Causes inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. Prolonged skin contact can cause dermatitis, cyanosis of the fingers and ulceration. May cause kidney damage.
Pre-existing Conditions... Exacerbates pre-existing skin disorders or eye problems, kidney problems or respiratory complaints.
NIOSH (IDLH) Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentration, 500 mg/m3
