Being submerged in an environment with temperatures around -196 degrees Celsius can lead to a truly catastrophic end for the victim. The only fortunate aspect is that the pain lasts only a few seconds before they lose all consciousness!
Nitrogen is a very common element on Earth. In the atmosphere alone, nitrogen accounts for nearly 80%. Under normal conditions, nitrogen exists in a gaseous state. However, when cooled to below -196 degrees Celsius (the boiling point of nitrogen), it changes to a liquid state, and we can maintain it in this form for extended periods by storing it in a vacuum flask without the need for continued cooling. Thanks to this characteristic, liquid nitrogen has been applied as a preservation medium or for freezing purposes.
Nitrogen is a very common element on Earth.
Recently, liquid nitrogen has even been used to create trending dishes such as: smoked popcorn, and smoke ice cream… While it provides a magical and visually stunning effect for foods and beverages, using liquid nitrogen for these purposes still poses significant health risks, which experts continue to warn about!
What makes nitrogen dangerous to humans?
Before finding an answer to this question, it’s essential to know a bit about the properties of this liquid. Liquid nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, and non-flammable substance. When exposed to room temperature, nitrogen quickly vaporizes and produces wispy white clouds.
Liquid nitrogen is used as a preservation medium or for freezing purposes.
Previously, liquid nitrogen was primarily used in manufacturing (for freezing export fruits) and in research (for sperm preservation, specimen storage). However, service providers quickly recognized the value of liquid nitrogen and brought it into daily life through various fields such as: gastronomy and entertainment… It wasn’t until unfortunate incidents occurred from the widespread use of liquid nitrogen, often without proper knowledge, that people began to realize the dangers of this liquid.
In an environment below -196 degrees Celsius, the entire body surface will quickly become numb.
In 2013, a resort in Mexico poured four barrels of liquid nitrogen into a swimming pool to create a visually stunning effect for a party attended by hundreds of people. Few could have imagined that the beautiful wispy water that day would soon turn into a “death pool”!
When nitrogen gas encounters high temperatures and vaporizes simultaneously, it nearly replaces all the oxygen in the air above the water’s surface. Therefore, when people jumped into the pool, they unknowingly trapped themselves in an “asphyxiation chamber”, and matters worsened as the white smoke caused by nitrogen restricted their ability to orient themselves, making it difficult for guests to find a way back to the surface. Fortunately, only four barrels of liquid nitrogen were poured into the pool, resulting in just one person being comatose and eight others requiring hospitalization.
So what would happen if that resort had replaced all the water with liquid nitrogen, or more broadly: “What would happen if we fell into a pool of liquid nitrogen?”
What happens if we ingest liquid nitrogen?
If liquid nitrogen enters the human body, it can pose numerous dangers:
- Firstly, liquid nitrogen has an extremely low temperature, around -196 degrees Celsius, which is much lower than human body temperature. When it directly contacts the skin or mucous membranes, it can cause severe frostbite, leading to tissue damage, blisters, and even necrosis. The risk is higher in delicate skin areas such as the mouth, throat, and esophagus.
- Secondly, if ingested, liquid nitrogen will quickly vaporize inside the body, creating nitrogen gas at high pressure. This pressure can expand the internal organs, particularly the stomach and intestines, leading to ruptures, tears, internal bleeding, and even death—1 liter of liquid nitrogen can vaporize into 700 liters of gas, and the entry of liquid nitrogen into the human stomach is akin to connecting a balloon to a high-capacity air pump; it will quickly swell and burst.
- Thirdly, as liquid nitrogen vaporizes in the body, it can displace oxygen from the lungs, leading to hypoxia and suffocation. This risk is heightened in individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions. Additionally, liquid nitrogen can affect blood flow to the brain, leading to oxygen deprivation and a lack of essential nutrients for brain function. This can result in symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, confusion, and even coma.
The most serious consequence of ingesting liquid nitrogen is death. Severe internal organ damage, suffocation, and cerebral hypoxia can lead to rapid death if not treated promptly. Even with timely treatment, the injuries from frostbite and oxygen deprivation after ingesting liquid nitrogen can leave long-lasting effects, impacting the health and quality of life of the victim.
If we fall into a pool of liquid nitrogen
Of course, in an environment below -196 degrees Celsius, the entire body surface will quickly become numb, and the skin will suffer severe frostbite (which is even more dangerous than burns from heat). Shortly after, liquid nitrogen will attack the inside of the body. Muscles, blood fat, and any fluids in the body will freeze solid. If you attempt to keep your head above the surface of this liquid nitrogen pool, the freezing of your lower body will cause you to sink in an instant. The final result will be a completely frozen body, like the specimens preserved using this method, which we can see in laboratories!
The feeling of pain will be very brief for them if they fall into a pool of liquid nitrogen.
The only piece of luck for the victim in this scenario is that the pain they experience will be very brief, as their nervous system will have been damaged and unable to transmit or perceive pain signals anymore.
This is a nightmare for the living. However, being frozen by nitrogen is a method that many people wish to apply to preserve their bodies after death. There are also cases of individuals with terminal illnesses like cancer who want to freeze their bodies while still alive, preserving them until technology advances enough to “thaw” them and cure their illnesses!
