What is liquid nitrogen and why is it dangerous on job sites? | The State
A nitrogen tank in a laboratory.
Photo:
JOSEP LAGO / AFP / Getty Images
This Thursday it was known that six people died in a Georgia chicken processing plant as a result of a liquid nitrogen leak.
The incident occurred at Prime Pak Foods in Gainesville, a city known as the “chicken capital” due to the large number of poultry houses it houses. Reports indicate that another 11 people are in critical condition due to the accident.
What’s liquid nitrogen?
It is nitrogen in state liquid at a low temperature (−320 ° F). It is produced industrially by fractional distillation of liquid air. It is used as a refrigerant. In meat plants they are used to cool meats.
Liquid nitrogen is also common in sperm banks and egg freezing centers. The medical industry uses it to treat skin cancer, warts, and hemorrhoids.
How can it kill?
A leak leads to the liquid nitrogen to evaporate. In this way it becomes an odorless gas that manages to displace oxygen. In a closed space it manages to remove the air that can be breathed.
To this is added that it can cause burns due to its low temperature. It is also colorless and tasteless. Produces suffocation without people being aware of your presence.
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