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What Are the Dangers of Helium Gas?

Helium is an inert gas element that is lighter than air. Helium is the second most common element found in the universe, with traces of it found in human blood. For years, party-goers have inhaled helium gas to produce a squeaky Donald Duck voice. Although material data safety sheets list helium as non-toxic, it is not without danger.

  1. Asphyxia

    • During inhalation of helium, the oxygen in your blood and lungs is replaced by helium. This results in oxygen depletion that can lead to suffocation. When inhaled repeatedly or in large amounts, this oxygen depletion causes dizziness and fainting, at which point if no other helium is inhaled, the body resumes its normal breathing, oxygen levels return to normal and the body recovers. If the exposure to large amounts of helium continues, however, this lack of oxygen leads to brain cell death and suffocation. There have been several documented accounts of people who have died because of over-exposure to helium.

    Falls

    • One of the most common reported injuries associated with the inhalation of helium happens when the body passes out or faints after suffering oxygen depletion. For this reason, party-goers using helium to produce funny voices should be monitored and, should they begin to faint or pass out, carefully lowered to the floor to prevent further injury.

    Lung Hemorrhage and Rupture

    • Helium is an inert gas that is stored in high-pressure tanks. One of the most dangerous situations associated with the inhalation of helium is the inhalation of it directly from these high-pressure tanks. This sudden increase of pressure in the lungs may lead to rupture of the lungs, or hemorrhage of the blood vessels in the lungs. This is a potentially life threatening event and should be treated as quickly as possible.

    Considerations

    • Persons who inhale only small amounts of helium have little to fear regarding potential long-term damage caused by this process, it is the overuse and high exposure to helium that poses the potential problems. In fact, doctors often use a mixture of oxygen and helium, known as Heliox, to treat persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease because the lighter-than-air effect of helium makes it easier for the oxygen rich mixture to pass through the obstructed areas of the lungs. Patients undergoing this treatment have their lungs and blood gases monitored closely to prevent over-exposure to helium.

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