Hydrochloric acid (CED0000825)

Hydrochloric acid (ClH) has an average molecular weight of 36.46 g/mol and exists as a gas or liquid at room temperature. Hydrochloric acid belongs to the halogen hydrides, a subclass of halogen organides within the inorganic compounds. This exogenous compound is used in the chemical industry for the large-scale production of MDI/TDI for polyurethane and vinyl chloride for PVC plastic. Other industrial roles include use as a pH regulating agent, cleaning agent, biocide, chelating agent, catalyst, processing aid (PMC11357608, PMC6781352), buffer (PMC7918079), and acid (PMC8017618). Smaller-scale applications involve descaling, leather processing, household cleaning, and the production of gelatin and other food additives. The compound is released from 75 recorded sources, including household cleaning and consumer products, food processing and cookware, building and construction materials, household items, and electrical and electronic equipment. In these contexts, it is found in items such as antennas, amplifiers, bleaching agents, fermentation processes for beer, and various structural elements like floors and roofs. Health effects associated with hydrochloric acid include overweight (PMC3295349) and bulimia nervosa (PMC12012973). It is associated with an increase in cancer (PMC11497671) and specifically an increase in breast cancer (PMC11791042, PMC13289265). It is further associated with pancreatic cancer (PMC9562888). Clinical detections include its presence in the blood of patients with breast cancer (PMC5581466) and elevated levels in the blood of those with pancreatic cancer (PMC6394840).