SC - re: OOP - carbonating beverages

[SAMANTHA SMALL/CHP]

On Thu, 8 Jan 1998, Alderton, Philippa wrote:

> Nitrous oxide is frequently used in dental surgery as a painkiller. It
> makes some people pain-insensitive, and they laugh like idiots. Others,
> : 
> : Curious...;-) What wexactly is the nasty dangerous thing they do?
> : 

The "nasty" part is not simply in the potential for abuse.  Because the
body and brain cells which require oxygen actually have a greater affinity
for nitrous oxide-N2O- (much in the same way as for carbon monoxide-CO-)
the concentration and inhalation of N2O leads to short term hypoxia or
oxygen deprivation.  When this "hobby" is sustained continuously over long
periods of time people can actually pass out.  Inhaling N2O from a balloon
or a soda/whipped cream charger as is the usual route will not kill a
person directly, but the loss of consciousness which can result has led to
injuries and even deaths (falling and causing blunt trauma to the head
etc.)  I'm not being an alarmist, I've seen it. 

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