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Dose of Reality: Opioid Overdose
… a life. Signs of an overdose include: Unresponsiveness or unconsciousness. Slowed or stopped breathing. Snoring or gurgling sounds. Cold or clammy skin. Discolored lips or fingernails. How … the directions of the 911 operator. Tell the 911 operator if the person has slowed or stopped breathing. Start rescue breathing if the person's breath is slow or has stopped. Make sure the person's mouth is not … -
Sulfur Dioxide
… garages, and malfunctioning chimneys. Exposure Information You can be exposed to SO2 by breathing it in the air or getting it on your skin. People who live near industrial sources of … in their homes may also be exposed to sulfur dioxide. Most SO2 exposures are caused by people breathing contaminated outdoor air. Therefore, limit your activities outdoors when you know that … can cause a burning sensation in the nose and throat. Also, exposure can cause difficulty breathing, including changes in the body's ability to take a breath or breathe deeply, or take in … -
Trash and Wood Burning
… health. People exposed to these air pollutants can experience eye and nose irritation, breathing difficulty, coughing, and headaches. People with heart disease, asthma, emphysema, or … health effects occurring depends mostly on the concentration of air pollutants in people’s breathing zone (the air around the nose and mouth). Typically, no adverse health effects are … trash and wood cause health problems? The gases released by trash and wood burning can cause breathing irritation. Some of these gases are called aldehydes, which cause strong irritation … -
About Influenza (Flu)
… There are warning signs and symptoms to watch out for in adults and children, such as trouble breathing, a fever that won't go away, or a fever that returns after you start to feel better. … visit our COVID-19 Symptoms page. Emergency warning signs and symptoms in adults Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen Sudden dizziness … Kidney failure Liver disease Emergency warning signs and symptoms in children and infants Fast breathing or trouble breathing Bluish skin color Not drinking enough fluids Not waking up or not … -
Naphthalene
… billion by volume (ppbv). The action level is considered to be protective of public health. Breathing naphthalene for a lifetime at 0.14 ppbv is very unlikely to be harmful to people. If … -
COVID-19: Wear a Mask
… or otherwise deforming. The mask should be tolerant of expected amounts of moisture from breathing. Suggested materials: Outer layer tea cloth, inner layer of a microfleece to wick away … around the mask and through it that provide plenty of oxygen. What if I experience difficulty breathing while wearing a mask? If a person with asthma has impaired breathing or other challenges while wearing a mask, it could be a sign of poorly controlled … -
Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE)
… water at levels as low as 100 parts per billion (ppb). Exposure Information You should avoid breathing gasoline vapors while refueling as you can be exposed to MTBE when filling gas cans or … billion by volume (ppbv). The action level is considered to be protective of public health. Breathing MTBE for a lifetime at 26 ppbv is very unlikely to be harmful to people. If MTBE … chemical. At even higher levels (in industrial settings), people can feel drunk, have trouble breathing, and lose coordination. Currently, the effects on humans of long-term exposure to low … -
Freons
… freons leak into soil before evaporation, they can seep into groundwater. Exposure Information Breathing gases from spray products is the way most people are exposed to freons. People can also … (Freon 11) at 130 ppbv The action level is considered to be protective of public health. Breathing these freons at these concentrations for a lifetime is very unlikely to be harmful to … -
Nitrogen Dioxide
… of the appliance can eliminate the problem. Exposure Information People are exposed to NO2 by breathing in the gas from polluted air. The levels of NO2 are usually higher outdoors than … the amount of chemical exposure, and whether the chemical was inhaled, touched, or eaten. Breathing low levels of nitrogen dioxide can cause a slight cough, mild fatigue, and nausea. Eye, … exposure is severe, symptoms may continue after the exposure has ended, causing difficulty in breathing for weeks. … -
Cyanide
… the electroplating industry, in metal-cleaning operations, and as an industrial insect killer. Breathing or eating cyanide can make people suddenly lose consciousness or cause death. There are … of skin) Headaches, dizziness and loss of coordination Nausea and vomiting Rapid, deep breathing or gasping Rapid pulse rate and increased blood pressure Muscle spasms and convulsions … -
1,1-Dichloroethylene
… billion by volume (ppbv). The action level is considered to be protective of public health. Breathing 1,1-DCE for a lifetime at 52 ppbv is very unlikely to be harmful to people. If 1,1-DCE … -
Methylene Chloride
… billion by volume (ppbv). The action level is considered to be protective of public health. Breathing methylene chloride for a lifetime at 180 ppbv is very unlikely to be harmful to people. … -
Occupational Lung Diseases
… These diseases may take a long time to develop. They may have lasting effects on lungs and breathing long after a worker stops working with them. Four lung diseases must be reported to … disease surveillance category II reportable diseases. Asbestosis is a lung disease caused by breathing in asbestos fibers. Plumbers, pipe fitters, steamfitters, ship builders, and … risk. Lung diseases from biodusts and bioaerosols are several kinds of lung diseases caused by breathing in particles from plants, animals, and microbes. Agricultural workers, waste handlers, … -
Mercury: Health Impacts
… your consumption of mercury. Cleaning mercury spills properly. People can also be exposed by breathing mercury vapors, which can happen in the workplace or in homes where mercury is spilled. … the formula, we recommend levels of mercury vapor be no higher than 2 parts per billion (ppb). Breathing mercury's vapors is very dangerous When metallic mercury is touched it can slowly pass … work with exterior latex paint containing mercury can absorb mercury through their skin or by breathing in unsafe air in unventilated areas. In the home: Organic mercury can be found in latex … -
Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
… cleaning or doing hobbies. PCE evaporates into the air. People are commonly exposed to PCE by breathing air containing its vapors. PCE can contaminate home air when people use cleaning … billion by volume (ppbv). The action level is considered to be protective of public health. Breathing PCE for a lifetime at 6 ppbv is very unlikely to be harmful to people. If PCE … The following symptoms may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to high levels: Breathing air containing more than 100 ppm (or 100,000 ppbv) of PCE may cause dizziness, … -
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)
… severe respiratory illness and have symptoms including fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. Many patients with MERS have developed severe complications including … severe respiratory illness with symptoms including: Fever Cough Shortness of breath or other breathing difficulties Some people also have diarrhea, nausea, and/or vomiting. Symptoms of MERS … -
Immunizations: Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
… After about a week, the cough gets worse. The cough causes other symptoms, such as: Difficulty breathing. Needing to take a deep breath that makes a “whoop” sound. Vomiting. Babies may not have a cough. Instead, they may stop breathing for several seconds, called apnea. Or they may look like they are gasping for air. … -
Ethylene Dibromide (EDB)
… many sites including skin, lung, nose, stomach and liver. Their cancer rates increased after breathing, eating and having EDB put on their skin. It is likely that cancer rates for humans … -
Toluene
… to high levels of toluene when they breathe vapors from paints, paint thinners, or glues. Breathing gasoline or car exhaust will also result in some exposure to toluene. People who live … billion by volume (ppbv). The action level is considered to be protective of public health. Breathing toluene for a lifetime at 1,400 ppbv is very unlikely to be harmful to people. If …
Last revised March 30, 2023