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What
sodium azide is
- Sodium
azide is a rapidly acting, potentially deadly chemical that exists as
an odorless white solid.
- When it
is mixed with water or an acid, sodium azide changes rapidly to a toxic
gas with a pungent (sharp) odor. It also changes into a toxic gas when
it comes in contact with solid metals (for example, when it is poured
into a drain pipe containing lead or copper).
- The odor
of the gas may not be sharp enough, however, to give people sufficient
warning of the danger.
Where
sodium azide is found and how it is used
- Sodium
azide is best known as the chemical found in automobile airbags. An
electrical charge triggered by automobile impact causes sodium azide
to explode and release nitrogen gas inside the airbag.
- Sodium
azide is used as a chemical preservative in hospitals and laboratories.
Accidents have occurred in these settings. In one case, sodium azide
was poured into a drain, where it exploded and the toxic gas was inhaled
(breathed in).
- Sodium
azide is used in agriculture (farming) for pest control.
- Sodium
azide is also used in detonators and other explosives.
How
you could be exposed to sodium azide
- Following
release of sodium azide into water, you could be exposed to sodium azide
by drinking the contaminated water.
- Following
contamination of food with sodium azide, you could be exposed to sodium
azide by eating the contaminated food.
- Following
release of sodium azide into the air, you could be exposed by breathing
in the dust or the gas that is formed.
- Sodium
azide can also enter the body and cause symptoms through skin contact.
- An explosion
involving sodium azide may cause burn injury as well as expose people
to the toxic gas, hydrozoic acid.
- CDC has
received no reports of sodium azide exposure following automobile airbag
deployment.
How
sodium azide works
- The seriousness
of poisoning caused by sodium azide depends on the amount, route, and
length of time of exposure, as well as the age and preexisting medical
condition of the person exposed.
- Breathing
the gas that is formed from sodium azide causes the most harm, but ingesting
(swallowing) sodium azide can be toxic as well.
- The gas
formed from sodium azide is most dangerous in enclosed places where
the gas will be trapped. The toxic gas quickly disperses in open spaces,
making it less harmful outdoors.
- The gas
formed from sodium azide is less dense (lighter) than air, so it will
rise.
- Sodium
azide prevents the cells of the body from using oxygen. When this happens,
the cells die.
- Sodium
azide is more harmful to the heart and the brain than to other organs,
because the heart and the brain use a lot of oxygen.
Immediate
signs and symptoms of sodium azide exposure
- People
exposed to a small amount of sodium azide by breathing it, absorbing
it through their skin, or eating foods that contain it may have some
or all of the following symptoms within minutes:
- Rapid
breathing
- Restlessness
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Headache
- Nausea
and vomiting
- Rapid
heart rate
- Red
eyes (gas or dust exposure)
- Clear
drainage from the nose (gas or dust exposure)
- Cough
(gas or dust exposure)
- Skin
burns and blisters (explosion or direct skin contact)
- Exposure
to a large amount of sodium azide by any route may cause these other
health effects as well:
- Convulsions
- Low
blood pressure
- Slow
heart rate
- Loss
of consciousness
- Lung
injury
- Respiratory
failure leading to death
- Showing
these signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has
been exposed to sodium azide.
What
the long-term health effects may be
Survivors
of serious sodium azide poisoning may have heart and brain damage.
How
people can protect themselves and what they should do if they are exposed
to sodium azide
- First,
get fresh air by leaving the area where the sodium azide was released.
Moving to an area with fresh air is a good way to reduce the possibility
of death from exposure to sodium azide.
- If
the sodium azide release was outside, move away from the area where
the sodium azide was released.
- If
the sodium azide release was indoors, get out of the building.
- If
leaving the area that was exposed to sodium azide is not an option,
stay as low to the ground as possible, because sodium azide fumes
rise.
- If
you are near a release of sodium azide, emergency coordinators may
tell you to either evacuate the area or to “shelter
in place” inside a building to avoid being exposed to
the chemical. For more information on evacuation during a chemical
emergency, see “Facts
About Evacuation”. For more information on sheltering
in place during a chemical emergency, see “Facts
About Sheltering in Place”.
- If
you think you may have been exposed to sodium azide, you should
remove your clothing, rapidly wash your entire body with soap and
water, and get medical care as quickly as possible.
-
Removing your clothing:
- Quickly
take off clothing that may have sodium azide on it. Any clothing
that has to be pulled over the head should be cut off the body instead
of pulled over the head.
- If
you are helping other people remove their clothing, try to avoid
touching any contaminated areas, and remove the clothing as quickly
as possible.
- Washing
yourself:
- As
quickly as possible, wash any sodium azide from your skin with large
amounts of soap and water. Washing with soap and water will help
protect people from any chemicals on their bodies.
- If
your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, rinse your eyes
with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes. If you wear contacts, remove
them and put them with the contaminated clothing. Do not put the
contacts back in your eyes (even if they are not disposable contacts).
If you wear eyeglasses, wash them with soap and water. You can put
your eyeglasses back on after you wash them.
-
Disposing of your clothes:
- After
you have washed yourself, place your clothing inside a plastic bag.
Avoid touching contaminated areas of the clothing. If you can't avoid
touching contaminated areas, or you aren't sure where the contaminated
areas are, wear rubber gloves or put the clothing in the bag using
tongs, tool handles, sticks, or similar objects. Anything that touches
the contaminated clothing should also be placed in the bag. If you
wear contacts, put them in the plastic bag, too.
- Seal
the bag, and then seal that bag inside another plastic bag. Disposing
of your clothing in this way will help protect you and other people
from any chemicals that might be on your clothes.
- When
the local or state health department or emergency personnel arrive,
tell them what you did with your clothes. The health department or
emergency personnel will arrange for further disposal. Do not handle
the plastic bags yourself.
- For
more information about cleaning your body and disposing of your clothes
after a chemical release, see “Chemical
Agents: Facts About Personal Cleaning and Disposal of Contaminated
Clothing”.
- If
someone has ingested sodium azide, do not induce vomiting or give
fluids to drink. Also, if you are sure the person has ingested sodium
azide, do not attempt CPR. Performing CPR on someone who has ingested
sodium azide could expose you to the chemical.
- When
sodium azide is ingested, it mixes with stomach acid and forms the
toxic gas, hydrozoic acid. If a person who has ingested sodium azide
is vomiting, isolate and stay away from the stomach contents (vomit)
to avoid exposure to the toxic gas.
- Do
not pour substances containing sodium azide (such as food, water,
or vomit) in the drain, because the drain can explode and cause serious
harm.
- Seek
medical attention right away. Dial 911 and explain what has happened.
How
sodium azide poisoning is treated
Sodium azide
poisoning is treated with supportive medical care in a hospital setting.
No specific antidote exists for sodium azide poisoning. The most important
thing is for victims to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
How
you can get more information about sodium azide
You can contact
one of the following:
This fact
sheet is based on CDC’s best current information. It may be updated
as new information becomes available.
Last reviewed
on 05/09/03
The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protects people’s health
and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances
health decisions by providing credible information on critical health
issues; and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local,
national, and international organizations.
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