How does urine contain ammonia?

Question

I’m curious how urine contains ammonia.

So many stories of people pissing in sinks and mustard gassing themselves, I’m sorry can someone please explain?

Edit: on mobile.

In: Biology

Answer 1

Urea can be broken down by bacteria into ammonia, but it isn’t generally present in freshly released urine. The story about urinating into a sink to produce mustard gas is implausible due not just to this but because there is unlikely to be anything but fresh water in the sink.

Instead this myth likely stems from the true danger of mixing ammonia and bleach, which will produce toxic, irritating chlorine gas. It isn’t the sulfur mustard of mustard gas but it is a dangerous gas that attacks the lungs and mucus membranes. Someone ignorantly combining cleaning products in the bathroom might easily injure themselves, but not through urinating into improper receptacles.