Sodium hydroxide is strongly corrosive and a powerful irritant by all routes of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, and eye contact). It can cause severe burns and permanent damage to any tissue it contacts. The mechanism of burning is two-fold; thermal burns result from sodium hydroxide combining with moisture and consequent production of heat, and chemical burns result from reaction with organic molecules. Aerosols and airborne particles are very irritating to the upper respiratory tract and may cause pulmonary edema (accumulation of fluid in the lungs). Sodium hydroxide reacts quickly on contact with tissue and does not produce systemic toxicity (i.e., it does not produce effects distant from the point of contact).
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