Is Inhalation Of CO2 from a Fire Extinguisher Poisonous ? Side Effects ?

Answer 1

Life Safety Considerations of Carbon Dioxide
Health Effects

The health effects associated with exposure to carbon dioxide are paradoxical. At the minimum design concentration (34 percent) for its use as a total flooding fire suppressant, carbon dioxide is lethal. But because carbon dioxide is a physiologically active gas and is a normal component of blood gases at low concentrations, its effects at lower concentrations (under 4 percent) may be beneficial under certain exposure conditions. (Appendix B discusses the lethal effects of carbon dioxide at high exposure levels (Part I) and the potentially beneficial effects of carbon dioxide at low exposure concentrations, as well as the use of added carbon dioxide in specialized flooding systems using inert gases (Part II))

At concentrations greater than 17 percent, such as those encountered during carbon dioxide fire suppressant use, loss of controlled and purposeful activity, unconsciousness, convulsions, coma, and death occur within 1 minute of initial inhalation of carbon dioxide (OSHA 1989, CCOHS 1990, Dalgaard et al. 1972, CATAMA 1953, Lambertsen 1971). At exposures between 10 and 15 percent, carbon dioxide has been shown to cause unconsciousness, drowsiness, severe muscle twitching, and dizziness within several minutes (Wong 1992, CATAMA 1953, Sechzer et al. 1960). Within a few minutes to an hour after exposure to concentrations between 7 and 10 percent, unconsciousness, dizziness, headache, visual and hearing dysfunction, mental depression, shortness of breath, and sweating have been observed (Schulte 1964, CATAMA 1953, Dripps and Comroe 1947, Wong 1992, Sechzer et al. 1960, OSHA 1989). Exposures to 4 to 7 percent carbon dioxide can result in headache; hearing and visual disturbances; increased blood pressure; dyspnea, or difficulty breathing; mental depression; and tremors (Schulte 1964; Consolazio et al. 1947; White et al. 1952; Wong 1992; Kety and Schmidt 1948; Gellhorn 1936; Gellhorn and Spiesman 1934, 1935; Schulte 1964). Part I of Appendix B discusses human health effects of high-concentration exposure to carbon dioxide in greater detail.

In human subjects exposed to low concentrations (less than 4 percent) of carbon dioxide for up to 30 minutes, dilation of cerebral blood vessels, increased pulmonary ventilation, and increased oxygen delivery to the tissues were observed (Gibbs et al. 1943, Patterson et al. 1955). These data suggest that carbon dioxide exposure can aid in counteracting effects (i.e., impaired brain function) of exposure to an oxygen-deficient atmosphere (Gibbs et al. 1943). These results were used by the United Kingdom regulatory community to differentiate between inert gas systems for fire suppression that contain carbon dioxide and those that do not (HAG 1995). During similar low-concentration exposure scenarios in humans, however, other researchers have recorded slight increases in blood pressure, hearing loss, sweating, headache, and dyspnea (Gellhorn and Speisman 1934, 1935; Schneider and Truesdale 1922; Schulte 1964). Part II of Appendix B discusses these results in greater detail.

Answer 2

If you have inhalated it .... then you could write your question on Yahoo .... and now you can read my answer .... then it was not poisonous at all and the only side effect could have been a little headache.

If you use a single fire extinguisher within or without a house, the total quantity is so little, that you at maximum suffer some headache. But if are used many of those extinguishers, CO2 might collect in the cellar (like e.g. happens in wine cellars), since CO2 is heavier than air. Your nose in this case is high enough to survive, but your dog might die. You can check, how high is the level of the CO2-"lake" by using a candle (this is how winemasters used to protect themselves when tasting their wines). Don´t bring your nose down underneath the detected level, where the candle extinguishes.

If you have to stay in or pass through CO2 protected zones (server rooms of computer installations, chemical plants etc.), those have a nasty acustic alarm causing pain in your ears; if starts that one, you should run immediately because mostly they give you 3 minutes only to leave from those zones. The concentration of CO2 they use there, in order to flood the zone automatically, will kill you within less than 2 minutes.

Answer 3

When I was in school we did a field trip to a bread factory. I leaned over to smell the rising dough in a large bin, to raise the dough before it is divided into individual loaves for baking. I espected to smell the pleasant smell of new bread.

I took a deep inhale through my nose and it felt like someone had hit me with a sledge hammer in my forehead. I staggered back realizing I had inhaled a lung full of carbon dioxide given off by the yeast as the dough was rising.

CO2, carbon dioxide, does not support human life. I had suddenly deprived my body of oxygen. I would have suffocated if I had not been about to escape the heavy gas that had filled up the bin the dough was rising in. CO2 has a molecular mass of 44 grams per mole, so it is heavier than oxygen which is 32 grams per mole or nitrogen which is 28 grams per mole..

There are volcanic lakes in Africa that "belch" large volumes of CO2 and kill all the living animals that live around the lake. CO2 is one of the gases that volcanos can give off.

I would not recommend wasting a Fire Extinguisher on your experiment. If there were a file you would need its use.

Answer 4

CO2 as released from a fire extinguisher is extreemy cold. It can freeze your nasal passages and damage the lungs. Breathing a little while using it won't hurt you but you need to get to fresh air.The CO2 replaces the oxygen in the air that you need.Side effects are a headache from just breathing a little.

Answer 5

Does not bother me at all. Pets die in the road because humans are irresponsible. There are too many dogs and cats in America, too many careless people. Remember, the deadliest animal in America, other than humans, is the domestic dog. All this politically correct nonsense toward dogs and cats is the main reason pet owners get sued. About a third of home owners legal cases for insurance are blamed on the family dog. In other words, most people have no business owning a dog. In fact I get upset when I see wild animals killed on the road. Especially since some people actually with intent, run them over. That includes snakes. It has been well documented that the automobile kills more wildlife that anything else. Truly sad, because most of that could be avoided.

Answer 6

it cannot be poisonous if inhale 4 a small period of time however if inhaled over a extended period of time the lungs will be starved of oxygen which can be fatal or inflict serious injury to the brain cells.CO2 does not form bond with haemoglobin does once there is a percentage of oxygen respiration will occur, co form permanent bonds with haemoglobin an is therefore poisonous.

Answer 7

death one side effect due to lack of oxygen , had heard of two youths tried inhaling from a fire extinguisher and the air ways were frozen ,killed em

Answer 8

As i know, it is not poisonous if you don't get so much CO2 that you can't breathe anymore... In this case, you may die.

Answer 9

It is poisonous if it be inhaled in excess and for a long time. until it can kill!

Answer 10

Depriving yourself of oxygen is dangerous no matter what you replace it with. Side effects include dizziness and loss of consciousness and death