The Effects of Sniffing Lab Chemicals

Laboratory chemicals present a host of different health hazards, especially when inhaled by someone. Sniffing many of the different laboratory chemicals can create health hazards, because the body is not accustomed to the foreign gas getting into the respiratory system. Inhaling laboratory chemicals not only affects the lungs, but can also cause sudden death.

Hydrocarbons

• Several of the aromatic hydrocarbons are used in a chemical laboratory to conduct different experiments. Hydrocarbon polymers, such as polyethylene, polypropylene or polystyrene have a low molecule weight, meaning it easily turns into gas. The gas can be absorbed into the skin, brain, heart tissue and other major organs of the body. It has been documented that sniffing these type of laboratory chemicals causes brain damage, effects the heart's rhythm which can cause sudden death or irreparable damage to the lungs and kidneys.

Butane

• One of the most common chemicals that get inhaled in a chemical laboratory comes from common use. Butane or propane burners are used in the lab to heat up chemicals for many different experiments. Inhaling butane or propane can cause sudden death because of the effects of the gas on the cardiac system. The gases can also damage the respiratory system and cause the nostrils to become irritated.

Solvents

• Many different solvents are used in the laboratory to clean or polish different materials. Acetone, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and carbitol are common chemicals found in the chemical laboratory. Inhaling anyone of these chemicals creates health hazards or death. For example, inhaling or sniffing acetone causes the skin to dry and then crack, irritating the nostrils, respiratory track and damaging the eyes. Carbitol chemicals does more than damage the respiratory system; inhaling this chemical can kill by poisoning the sniffer because the chemical has a myethylene chloride base that the body will turn into carbon monoxide. Inhaling carbitol is similar to inhaling the fumes from the exhaust of an automobile.

Cooling Agents

• Different cooling agents, such as freon, are used in the chemical laboratory to store or freeze experiments for further study. These agents can cause sudden death if inhaled by an individual. Freon, for example, creates cardiac arrhythmia, causing a heart attack. Another cause of sudden death when sniffing cooling agents can be created by the sudden freezing of the respiratory track. The respiratory track become clogged or obstructed because of the sudden cooling of different part of the system and chokes the person inhaling the chemical.