Sodium Azide Poisoning and Its Prevention

What Is Sodium Azide?

A swiftly acting, possibly lethal chemical called sodium azide is an odorless, white solid. When sodium azide is combined with water or acid, it quickly becomes a poisonous gas with a harsh (pungent) smell. In addition, when it comes into contact with solid metals, it transforms into a poisonous gas (hydrazoic acid). Most people are familiar with sodium azide as the substance used in car airbags. When a car hits due to an electric charge, sodium azide inside the airbag explodes and turns into nitrogen gas. Sodium azide is a chemical preservative in hospitals and laboratories for pest management in agriculture (farming). Additionally, it is used in detonators and other explosives.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms Experienced on Exposure to Sodium Azide?

People who worked in laboratories were involved in the majority of reported incidents. Exposures exceeding or equal to 700 mg (10 mg/kg) cause fatal dosages. The range of nonlethal doses was 0.3 to 150 mg (0.004–2 mg/kg).

Acute Symptoms:

• People exposed to sodium azide may experience any or all of the following symptoms within minutes of being exposed to it through their skin, breathing it in, or eating foods that contain it.

• Nose discharge is caused due to gas or dust exposure.

• Cough.

• Loss of coordination.

• Headache.

• Nausea and diarrhea.

• Rapid breathing.

• Increased heartbeat.

• Redness of eyes due to gas or dust exposure.

• Restlessness.

• Weakness in muscles.

• Skin blisters and burns (explosion or direct skin contact).

Chronic Symptoms:

Long-term exposure to a significant amount of sodium azide may result in these other health consequences as well:

• Seizures.

• Reduced blood pressure.

• Mutations in genes lead to cancer risk.

• Loss of awareness.

• Lung damage.

• Sluggish heartbeat.

• Death caused by respiratory failure.

What Safety Precautions Can Be Taken on Exposure to Sodium Cyanide?

Move Away from Location:

• First, leave the place where sodium azide was emitted to obtain some fresh air.

• Get away from the location where sodium azide was discharged if it was an outdoor release. Get outside if the sodium azide emission occurs inside.

• If exiting the sodium azide-contaminated region is not an option, stay as close to the ground as possible since the vapors ascend.

• Emergency managers may advise one to leave the area if sodium azide is being released or to "shelter in place" within the building to prevent exposure to chemicals.

Removing the Garments:

• Take away any clothes that could have sodium azide on them right away. Any garment that has to be pulled over the head should be cut off at the torso.

• If one is assisting someone else in taking off their clothing, try to keep their hands away from any potentially infectious places and remove the garment as fast as possible.

Taking a Shower:

• Wash off any sodium azide from the skin as soon as possible with lots of soap and water. People may protect themselves from any chemicals on their bodies by washing them with soap and water.

• Rinse the eyes with water for 10 to 15 minutes if they are burning or if one experiences a blurry vision.

• Remove any contact lenses one may be wearing and store them alongside the infected items.

• Do not replace the contacts in eyes (even if they are not disposable contacts). Wash the glasses with soap and water if one has to wear them. Once they are washed, individuals can wear spectacles.

Disposing of the Worn Garments:

• After washing oneself, carefully dispose of the garments into a plastic bag before throwing them away.

• Do not touch any infected clothing or surfaces. If one cannot avoid touching contaminated parts or are unsure of their location, put on rubber gloves or use tongs, tool handles, sticks, or other similar things to place the garments in the bag.

• Everything that comes in contact with the contaminated clothing should also be thrown in the bag.

• Before placing it inside another plastic bag, close the first one. This garment disposal method can help protect not only themselves but others from any pollutants that may be present.

Call for Emergency Help:

• The emergency services or the health department will make arrangements for further disposal. Never touch plastic bags by oneself.

• One should not induce vomiting or offer someone fluids to drink if they have consumed sodium azide.

• Additionally, if one is certain the individual has consumed sodium azide, avoid performing mouth-to-mouth breathing during CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

• One might be exposed to sodium azide if they provide CPR to someone who has consumed the poison.

• When sodium azide is consumed, the deadly gas hydrazoic acid is created when it reacts with stomach acid. To prevent exposure to the poisonous gas, separate the individual who has consumed sodium azide and remain away from the stomach contents (such as if the individuals vomit).

• Food, water, or vomit should never be put down the drain since they might cause the drain to rupture and cause significant injury.

• Always seek immediate medical help.

How to Handle and Store Sodium Azide?

• Sodium azide can be kept in a dark, cold, dry environment away from acids with other acutely poisonous compounds.

• Store in well-ventilated and air-tight containers.

• It is best to keep away from places where acids, acid gas, or heat are produced. Sodium azide should be stored away from metals, acids, carbon disulfide, bromine, chromyl chloride, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrazine, and dimethyl sulfate because contact with acids creates the very deadly gas hydrazoic acid. The word " Toxic" should be written on both the primary and backup containers.

• In plumbing systems, sodium azide will react with metals like silver, gold, lead, copper, brass, or solder to create explosive metal azides. The spatula can be made of stainless steel.

• Sodium azide may become statically charged and dissipates quickly with fume hood airflow.

• Sodium azide rapidly hydrolyzes in water when combined with water or acid to generate hydrazoic acid, a very poisonous and explosive gas. When moving stuff to the desired container, one should be extremely cautious.

Conclusion

There are several ways to be exposed to azide, which can cause various symptoms and illness severity. The effectiveness of treatment can be equivocal and is heavily influenced by the injury's nature, location, and severity. The best action is to prevent or minimize exposure, particularly among high-risk individuals.