What happens when you sniff toluene?

Prolonged exposure to toluene by inhalation is associated with CNS, heart, liver, kidney, and lung toxicity. Other sequelae include muscle weakness, nasal ulcerations, recurrent epistaxis, chronic rhinitis, neuropsychiatric abnormalities, GI symptoms, and peripheral neuropathies (see Pathophysiology).

What are the effects of inhaling?

Fine particles are able to travel deeply into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs. Inhaling fine particles can cause a variety of health effects, including respiratory irritation and shortness of breath, and can worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease.

Can you smell toluene?

Toluene is a clear, colorless liquid which becomes a vapor when exposed to air at room temperature. Toluene vapor has a sharp or sweet odor, which is a sign of exposure.

How is toluene abused?

Toluene Abuse Toluene abusers generally employ one of two methods to achieve a “high” with this substance: “huffing,” in which a rag is soaked with toluene and the fumes are directly inhaled, and “bagging,” in which the fumes are inhaled as they arise from the solvent placed in a plastic bag.

How do chemicals affect us?

Chemicals can enter and irritate the nose, air passages and lungs. They can become deposited in the airways or be absorbed by the lungs into the bloodstream. The blood can then carry these substances to the rest of the body. Ingestion (swallowing) of food, drink or other substances is another route of exposure.

What do you do when you inhale chemicals?

If you have breathed a chemical, immediately move to fresh air. If liquid chemical soaks clothing or skin, then take clothes off right away and wash the skin with large amounts of water to flush away the chemical (strip and shower).

Do people huff toluene?

As a recreational drug, toluene is most often inhaled nasally (glue sniffing, huffing), and produces acute neurological effects such as euphoria followed by depression [5, 20].

What does toluene do to humans?

Toluene (C₆H₅CH₃) is a colorless liquid with a sweet, pungent odor. Exposure to toluene can cause eye and nose irritation, tiredness, confusion, euphoria, dizziness, headache, dilated pupils, tears, anxiety, muscle fatigue, insomnia, nerve damage, inflammation of the skin, and liver and kidney damage.

How is chemical disaster caused?

Common causes for chemical accidents are deficiencies in safety management systems and human errors, or they may occur as a consequence of natural calamities or sabotage activities. Chemical accidents result in fire, explosion and/or toxic release.

What do you do if you inhale chemicals?

How do you clean your lungs after inhaling chemicals?

Ways to clear the lungs

1. Steam therapy. Steam therapy, or steam inhalation, involves inhaling water vapor to open the airways and help the lungs drain mucus.
2. Controlled coughing.
3. Drain mucus from the lungs.
4. Exercise.
5. Green tea.
6. Anti-inflammatory foods.
7. Chest percussion.