Just an article i came across....check this out..
According to Washington University’s department of chemistry, sodium azide, NaN[SUB]3[/SUB], is the most common propellant for the airbag. When a crash occurs the azide is ignited and it decomposes to produce nitrogen gas, N[SUB]2[/SUB], which fills the airbag (2NaN[SUB]3[/SUB]? 2Na + 3N[SUB]2[/SUB]) in .025 seconds at speeds between 150 and 200 miles per hour. Extreme heat is also given off by the exothermic reaction of the sodium azide as it ignitesSodium hydroxide, a caustic powder, is one of the by-products of the reaction. It is generated because potassium nitrate, KNO[SUB]3, [/SUB]is placed in the detonator canister with the azide to scavenge sodium formed during the explosion. Sodium metal is extremely reactive, and can actually causing unwanted explosions with water (2Na + 2H[SUB]2[/SUB]O --> 2NaOH + H[SUB]2[/SUB]). The heat given off when sodium metal reacts with water is sufficient to ignite and explode the hydrogen gas produced.
Sodium hydroxide is often found in the gas fumes that escape from the airbag as it deflates. Although in only small amounts, the NHTSA has found that sodium hydroxide is causing coughing fits and asthma attacks in the drivers and passengers. Rescue workers are advised to wear gloves and safety glasses and to completely ventilate the car for several minutes before entering. The excessive coughing caused by the air bag powder can also make a chest injury worse.
Emergency personnel are now treating all accidents with airbag deployments as potential brain, chest and spine damage, according to Midsouth Rescue Technologies. Also, according to the AORC, the recommended hand position on steering wheels has changed from ten and two to nine and three o’clock in order to avoid damage to the radius and ulna, the bones in the arm and also to prevent the arm from damaging the face after it is hit by the airbag.
Others, such as University of Arizona researcher, Eric Betterton, are concerned that sodium azide will escape from the container and get into the environment. Sodium azide is an extremely toxic poison, capable of destroying entire ecosystems. An undeployed airbag contains between 50 grams for the driver side and 200 grams for the passenger side. After the airbag reacts, all of the sodium azide should be converted to harmless nitrogen gas. Undeployed airbags should be removed from cars before they are “junked” or put into landfills in order to prevent unreacted sodium azide from getting into the environment, recommends Betterton.According to Washington University’s department of chemistry, sodium azide, NaN[SUB]3[/SUB], is the most common propellant for the airbag. When a crash occurs the azide is ignited and it decomposes to produce nitrogen gas, N[SUB]2[/SUB], which fills the airbag (2NaN[SUB]3[/SUB]? 2Na + 3N[SUB]2[/SUB]) in .025 seconds at speeds between 150 and 200 miles per hour. Extreme heat is also given off by the exothermic reaction of the sodium azide as it ignitesSodium hydroxide, a caustic powder, is one of the by-products of the reaction. It is generated because potassium nitrate, KNO[SUB]3, [/SUB]is placed in the detonator canister with the azide to scavenge sodium formed during the explosion. Sodium metal is extremely reactive, and can actually causing unwanted explosions with water (2Na + 2H[SUB]2[/SUB]O --> 2NaOH + H[SUB]2[/SUB]). The heat given off when sodium metal reacts with water is sufficient to ignite and explode the hydrogen gas produced.
Sodium hydroxide is often found in the gas fumes that escape from the airbag as it deflates. Although in only small amounts, the NHTSA has found that sodium hydroxide is causing coughing fits and asthma attacks in the drivers and passengers. Rescue workers are advised to wear gloves and safety glasses and to completely ventilate the car for several minutes before entering. The excessive coughing caused by the air bag powder can also make a chest injury worse.
Emergency personnel are now treating all accidents with airbag deployments as potential brain, chest and spine damage, according to Midsouth Rescue Technologies. Also, according to the AORC, the recommended hand position on steering wheels has changed from ten and two to nine and three o’clock in order to avoid damage to the radius and ulna, the bones in the arm and also to prevent the arm from damaging the face after it is hit by the airbag.
Others, such as University of Arizona researcher, Eric Betterton, are concerned that sodium azide will escape from the container and get into the environment. Sodium azide is an extremely toxic poison, capable of destroying entire ecosystems. An undeployed airbag contains between 50 grams for the driver side and 200 grams for the passenger side. After the airbag reacts, all of the sodium azide should be converted to harmless nitrogen gas. Undeployed airbags should be removed from cars before they are “junked” or put into landfills in order to prevent unreacted sodium azide from getting into the environment, recommends Betterton.
Now provided the situation i have a few questions;
1- Can our medical rescue teams treat the patients that are affected by these harmful chemicals released from airbags? Is there enough awareness in our medical centres, doctors etc to correctly diagnose and treat such patients?
2- Such harmful chemicals which can prove extremely hazardous for the environment. do we have the tech to contain the contamination? for a nation that does not even care what environmental health actually is?