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What is an Asphyxiant?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

An asphyxiant is an agent or event which induces asphyxia, also known as suffocation. Asphyxiation can be extremely dangerous, as lack of oxygen will kill most animals within minutes. Even if asphyxiation doesn't kill, it can result in severe brain damage. Therefore, asphyxiants are an issue of concern. Since asphyxiants can take a number of forms, it is an excellent idea to get acquainted with basic safety procedures which are designed to decrease the risk of asphyxia, ranging from learning to swim to using proper ventilation in laboratories.

Most people are familiar with an asphyxiant in the form of a event, like drowning or choking to death. In both of these cases, the asphyxiant renders the body unable to intake oxygen, leading to oxygen starvation. If the victim is removed from the asphyxiating circumstances, he or she should recover very quickly, as neither incident has health effects beyond asphyxiation.

Liquid nitrogen becomes an asphyxiant when it converts to gaseous nitrogen.
Liquid nitrogen becomes an asphyxiant when it converts to gaseous nitrogen.

In another sense, an asphyxiant can interfere with the body's ability to process and deliver oxygen. Carbon monoxide is an asphyxiant which acts in this way, by binding to the red blood cells of the body so that they cannot pass needed oxygen onto the rest of the body. In this case, the patient may need to be given pure oxygen or other treatments to force the carbon monoxide out of the blood, allowing him or her to recover normal oxygen circulation.

A person who has been involved in a drowning incident may die from asphyxia.
A person who has been involved in a drowning incident may die from asphyxia.

An asphyxiant can also cause suffocation by displacing oxygen in the environment. This type of asphyxiant takes the form of a gas such as helium, nitrogen, or argon. On their own and in small amounts, these gases are not harmful; in fact, you're breathing these gases right now. However, when concentrations of these gases get too high, they dilute oxygen levels to a dangerously low amount, and this will lead to asphyxiation.

Drowning is a common asphyxiant.
Drowning is a common asphyxiant.

Asphyxiant gases are a major issue because many of them are largely inert, and they are also odorless and colorless. Therefore, people may not be aware that they are in danger until it is too late. When working with asphyxiant gases, a well ventilated workspace is essential. This is especially true with liquid nitrogen, which will rapidly convert to gaseous nitrogen, overwhelming an environment very quickly. Excessive amounts of nitrogen will produce an oxygen-poor environment close to the ground, so if someone becomes unconscious and falls to the ground, his or her condition will rapidly get worse.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

JaneAir

Carbon monoxide is usually the first thing that pops in my mind when I hear "asphyxiant" also. But I just read a really disturbing article in the New York Times a few days ago about people who are committing suicide with homemade asphyxiants.

Apparently the instructions are posted online, which in itself is a little bit upsetting. Even worse, the gas can spread and harm other people in the area who don't have any desire to commit suicide. Also several rescue workers have been injured in asphyxiant gas related suicides.

I really think people posting those kind of instructions online should be held criminally liable. Suicidal people need help not instructions on how to kill themselves.

Azuza

@indemnifyme - Oh wow. I'm glad your friend and his neighbors were all OK. Ever since I moved out on my own my Mom drilled the importance of having a carbon monoxide detector into my head.

I thought she was being a little over dramatic about it but after I did a little bit of research I found out that around a hundred people die from carbon monoxide poisoning every year in the United States! So I always make sure to have a working carbon monoxide detector in my home.

indemnifyme

Asphyxiants are so scary. I actually have a good friend who almost died from carbon monoxide poisoning in his apartment building years ago.

He and his wife both got really sick with what they thought was a really bad flu one day. However when my friend left the apartment to go get something out of their car they happened to run into another neighbor that had the same symptoms they did.

My friend remembered the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and started going door to door to see if anyone else was ill. Eventually he was able to get everyone out of the building and emergency medical services were called to treat them all.

After my friend told me this story I went out and bought a carbon monoxide detector the same day. I urge everyone else to do the same!

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    • Liquid nitrogen becomes an asphyxiant when it converts to gaseous nitrogen.
      By: Gman73
      Liquid nitrogen becomes an asphyxiant when it converts to gaseous nitrogen.
    • A person who has been involved in a drowning incident may die from asphyxia.
      By: benjaminnolte
      A person who has been involved in a drowning incident may die from asphyxia.
    • Drowning is a common asphyxiant.
      By: Anton Sokolov
      Drowning is a common asphyxiant.
    • Supplemental oxygen may be enough to ward off an asphyxiant in some cases.
      By: Leah-Anne Thompson
      Supplemental oxygen may be enough to ward off an asphyxiant in some cases.
    • Choking can lead to asphyxiation.
      By: nebari
      Choking can lead to asphyxiation.
    • Children who swallow objects that become lodged in their throats risk asphyxiation.
      By: Magalice
      Children who swallow objects that become lodged in their throats risk asphyxiation.