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Hazards of Nitrogen Gas

Nitrogen is a gas that was first discovered in the 16th century. It is the largest component of the earth's atmosphere and is found in all living organisms. Nitrogen is an odorless, nontoxic, tasteless and non-flammable gas. Despite its seemingly innocuous properties, nitrogen can cause serious damage to the human body.

  1. Asphyxiation

    • The air that humans breathe is composed of 78 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen. If oxygen levels fall below 19.5 percent, suffocation can take place. The oxygen levels found in the air can quickly drop in the presence of excess nitrogen because the nitrogen displaces the available oxygen. In industrial settings, such as petrochemical plants, nitrogen is used to purge equipment. Unprotected workers in the proximity of the equipment may experience dizziness, nausea, vomiting, reduced mental alertness, loss of consciousness and eventually, death.The U.S. Chemical Safety Board reported that between 1992 and 2002, 80 people were killed by nitrogen asphyxiation in the workplace.

    Decompression Sickness

    • During the time spent underwater, a scuba diver's body tissue absorbs nitrogen from the compressed air that he uses to breathe. While the diver is in the water and subject to pressure at depth, the nitrogen is harmless. The problem arises if a diver ascends to the surface too quickly. The rapid decrease in pressure causes the nitrogen to form bubbles in the diver's bloodstream and tissue. On the surface, the diver will experience severe pain in his abdomen, lower back and extremities, followed by paralysis and unconsciousness. If left untreated, decompression sickness can be fatal.

    Nitrogen Narcosis

    • When scuba divers descend to a depth of more than 30 meters they can experience a condition known as nitrogen narcosis. This is caused when the nitrogen in the compressed air that they are breathing is subject to a partial pressure that is more than three times atmospheric pressure. A diver suffering from nitrogen narcosis will experience feelings of euphoria and may entertain false beliefs in her own abilities. Manual dexterity is decreased as well as the ability for complex reasoning. The sensation is sometimes described as similar to that of alcoholic intoxication.

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