Appearance/Identification

• Urea nitrogen is a gas. However, the manufacturing process of creating urea results in crystals that smell similar to urine.
  
  

Symptoms of Urea Exposure

• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states that urea exposure can result in a burning in the throat, lungs and eyes, cough, difficulty breathing and, in severe cases, nausea, headache, fever and seizures.
  
  

Health Effects

• Urea exposure can permanently damage the lungs.
  
  

Combustibility

• Urea is highly combustible and was a significant component in the World Trade Center bomb of 1993.
  
  

Prevention

• In order to prevent explosion, temperatures need to remain below 132 degrees Celsius, and urea must not come in contact with chlorites, nitrites, oxidants or inorganic chlorides.