Acids
Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.
Home Workshop Tools & Equipment · CPSC Code 936
Stable over 5 years
The verdict
Acids carry a danger score of 35/100 (low risk), driven by roughly 1,338 ER-treated injuries a year that are roughly flat over the last five years.
- 35/100
- danger score (low risk)
- 1,338
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 7.7%
- end in hospital admission
- 45-54
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 936 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 35/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for acids - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume1,338 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)7.7%
- Fatality rate0.00%
- 5-year trend-3%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Acids (CPSC product code 936, in the Home Workshop Tools & Equipment category) generate an estimated 1,338 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 26,763 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 35/100 for this category (low risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are roughly flat over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2011 (1,923 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2018 (784 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for acids is poisoning to the all parts body, accounting for approximately 7,004 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by burn, chemical to the eyeball (3,426 cases). The 45-54 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 5,182 cases over the NEISS window, and males appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 7.7% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 1 consumer incident report filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how acids fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 815 | 490 | |
| 5-14 | 751 | 629 | |
| 15-24 | 2,563 | 1,988 | |
| 25-34 | 2,671 | 1,083 | |
| 35-44 | 2,926 | 1,963 | |
| 45-54 | 3,982 | 1,200 | |
| 55-64 | 2,426 | 539 | |
| 65-74 | 1,540 | 575 | |
| 75+ | 456 | 171 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| All Parts Body | Poisoning | |
| Eyeball | Burn, Chemical | |
| Hand | Burn, Chemical | |
| Finger | Burn, Chemical | |
| Eyeball | Derma/conjunct | |
| Face | Burn, Chemical | |
| Eyeball | Other | |
| Foot | Burn, Chemical | |
| Lower Arm | Burn, Chemical | |
| Lower Leg | Burn, Chemical | |
| Eyeball | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Upper Leg | Burn, Chemical | |
| Mouth | Burn, Chemical | |
| Hand | Other | |
| Finger | Other |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
28YOM PRESENTS TO ED FOR HAND INJURY. PT HAS ACID BURN TO RT HAND JUST PRIOR TO ARRIVAL TODAY. PT WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE SKIN CARE PRODUCTS AT HOME AND ATTEMPTING A CHEMICAL REACTION INVOLVING SULFURIC ACID. WHEN REACTION DIDNT APPEAR TO BE PROCEEDING, PT ATTEMPTED TO STIR MIXED CREATION CAUSING SUDDEN BOIL OVER ONTO UNGLOVED RT HAND. IMMEDIATE BURNING PAIN TO DORSUM OF RT HAND. DX: BURN
30 YOM REPORTS AN ACID SPILLED ON MY FOOT A WEEK AGO, AND I PUT WATER ON IT, AND IT STARTED BURNING. DX: NO DX, LEFT WITHOUT BEING SEEN.
51YOM STATES HE WAS SPRAYING ACID ON SOME BRICKS OUTSIDE AND THE WIND BLEW THE ACID INTO HIS EYES, DX EYE PROBLEM
50YOM PRESENTS WITH SHORTNESS OF BREATH, DIFFICULTY SWALLOWING AND CHANGE IN VOICE AFTER INHALATION EXPOSURE OF MURIATIC ACID. PATIENT RINSED FACE AND NOSTRILS. DX: ACUTE COUGH, PNEUMONITIS, CHEMICAL PNEUMONITIS
71YOM STATES THAT HE WAS CLEANING AN ALUMINUM TANK AT HOME AND WAS SPRAYING THE TANK WITH ALUMINUM ACID CLEANER WHEN THE CLEANER LEAKED ONTO HIS HAND NOW HAS A BURNING SENSATION DX: CHEMICAL EXPOSURE
48YOM WAS FOUND IN HIS LIVING QUARTERS WITH A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BLOOD SPLATTERED AROUND HIS LIVING QUARTERS, REPORTS HE HIT HIS HEAD, AHS DRIED BLOOD IN HIS HAIR, ALSO STATES THAT HE HAS DIFFICULTY BREATHING AFTER A STRANGER WITH SOME SMALL CHILDREN WHO THEN EXPOSED HIM TO SOME HYDROCHLORIC ACID. DX: SYMPTOMATIC ANEMIA
37YOM, C/O WOUND MIDDLE FINGER X 2 WEEKS, GOT CLEANING ACID ON HIS HANDS, NOT WEARING GLOVES DX: NO DIAGNOSIS, ELOPEMENT
65YOM P/W HAND PAIN, PT STATES HE ACCIDENTALLY DIPPED HI HAND IN A LIQUID HE BELIEVES WAS ACID, PT REPORTS NO BLISTERS OR OPENED WOUNDS, 2DX:HAND PAIN, PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY
75YOF PRESENTS WITH RIGHT EYE PAIN, DRAINAGE AND SWELLING SINCE YESTERDAY. PATIENT STATES SHE ACCIDENTALLY PUT 2 DROPS OF SULFURIC ACID IN HER EYE THINKING IT WAS LUBRICATING DROPS. SHE HAD IMMEDIATE BURNING AND FLUSHED HER EYE FOR 15 MINUTES WITH TAP WATER. THIS MORNING SHE HAS GREEN DRAINAGE FROM THE EYE, UNABLE TO SEE OUT OF EYE AND EYE IS SWOLLEN SHUT. DX: ULCER CORNEA RIGHT.
31 YOF WITH LEFT EYE PAIN. PT WEARS CONTACTS AND ACCIDENTALLY SOAKED THEM IN AN ACID SOLUTION INSTEAD OF CONTACT LENSE CLEANER. DX CORNEAL ABRASION
40 YOM WAS USING HYDROCHLORIC AND HYDROFLUORIC ACID 2 DAYS AGO AND GOT IT ON HIS BILATERAL LOWER EXTREMITIES, UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. DX: CHEMICAL BURN
30YOM PATIENT COMPLAINING OF LEFT EYE PAIN AFTER ACID FELL IN MY EYES COUPLE DAYS AGO, AND IT'S HURTING NOW . DX: ACID CHEMICAL BURN OF LEFT EYE
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
The Carolinas Poison Center was contacted regarding a patient who was exposed to JBI Inc. (76 Palmetto Industrial Park, Timmonsville, SC 29161, P: (843)346-4996) Dull Buster Hydrofluoric acid wheel cleaning solution purchased one week prior from a local Car Quest. The specific hydrofluoric acid percentage is not listed on the bottle. A warning UN # 1790 was listed on the bottle which corresponds to Hydrofluoric acid with not more than 60 % hydrofluoric acid. A specific MSDS sheet was delayed in availability (the company states a chemtrek phone number is present on the bottle, however, this number is not visible in any pictures of the labels sent to poison center). Also, the specific instructions present on the label do not appear to adequately capture the potential dangers of hydrofluoric acid exposure. They state that after skin exposure, one should Flush with water. Remove contaminated clothing. It does not state that skin/inhalation exposure can be potentially life threatening. It also does not state that care should be sought for inhalation/skin exposure. There are various potential therapeutic options that would be available such as the administration of calcium gluconate. Encouraging consumers to seek care could also ensure proper follow up with a hand surgeon when appropriate to prevent further morbidity. Also, the product lists rubber gloves as appropriate protection for the use of this product. Latex gloves would not be adequate and further guidance on appropriate protection is not listed. The patient in question was transported to a higher level of care and treated with invasive procedures that carry serious risks. The decision regarding transfer and to perform these procedures would have been better informed if the product were properly labeled. The Carolinas Poison Center discussed this case with the director of the UNC Burn Center as well as the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. All involved parties involved are i
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to acids on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are acids?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, acids have a danger score of 35/100 (low risk). An estimated 1,338 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from acids?
The most common injury is poisoning to the all parts body, accounting for approximately 7,004 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from acids increasing or decreasing?
Stable over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for acids injuries?
The 45-54 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 5,182 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by acids?
Of all ER visits involving acids, approximately 7.7% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (92.3%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with acids?
You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
Related Products in Home Workshop Tools & Equipment
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 35/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.
- See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
- Injuries cluster in the 45-54 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
- Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls
NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.
Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.
