After submerging the metal plate in the nitric acid, the part being eroded produces bubbles containing the pernicious compounds nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide, which over long periods are damaging to the lungs and air passages. The acid itself can stain, burn holes in clothing, and induce skin irritation and disease.
其中，硝酸水又稱酸水，置入金屬板後，被腐蝕的部份會產生氣泡，這種氣體含有一氧化氮 NO 和二氧化氮 NO2，長期吸入會傷害肺部和呼吸道，而酸水飛沫不僅會弄污、破損衣物，皮膚長期接觸也會發生病變，變得敏感而脆弱。