Hydrogen Gas Inhalers Pose Serious Explosion Risks, Study Warns

TL;DR

Some companies sell hydrogen gas inhalers that can still explode even though they claim to be safe, and this study found that gas leaks inside the device are what cause these dangerous explosions. The researchers created guidelines to help people pick safer hydrogen inhalers so they don't get hurt.

Key Finding

Hydrogen gas inhalers can explode even when producing 100% pure hydrogen, with internal gas leakage identified as the primary cause of explosion incidents.

Summary

This study reviewed past accidents involving hydrogen gas inhalers to understand why they explode. Researchers found that hydrogen gas leaking inside the device was the main cause of explosions. Surprisingly, even inhalers that produce 100% pure hydrogen can explode, contradicting manufacturer claims that high purity makes them safe. The study provides guidelines for choosing safer hydrogen inhalers based on what caused past accidents.

Practical Takeaway

This is a safety analysis of past accidents rather than a study of hydrogen's health effects. If you're considering a hydrogen inhaler, this research suggests that manufacturer claims about safety based on high purity alone are not reliable, and that device design features preventing gas leakage should be a key selection criterion. However, this study does not address whether hydrogen inhalers are beneficial for health.

Abstract (excerpt)

Despite the fact that we have reported on the dangers of the explosion of hydrogen gas inhalers, hydrogen gas inhalers with explosive hazards are, as a matter of fact, still being sold today. In this study, we investigated past reports of hydrogen gas inhaler explosion accidents to clarify…

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