At larger doses solvents may cause hallucinations. The effects of the solvent vapours occur quickly and disappear within a few minutes to half an hour if sniffing is stopped. There is a risk if accidental death or injury when solvent users are intoxicated as users may not be able to perceive all dangers present. Prolonged sniffing may cause the user to vomit and become unconscious, which also carries the risk of death through choking on inhaled vomit. Also death can occur through suffocation if users obstruct breathing by placing plastic bags over their heads or sniff solvents in poorly ventilated places.
Gases squirted directly into the mouth can cause suffocation by freezing the air passages.
Also cells in the back of the throat may respond to the cold by producing fluid which fills up the lungs and 'drowns' the user. However, deaths are rare and most can be avoided even if solvent misuse itself cannot be prevented. Effects of long-term use Heavy solvent misuse over a period of 10 years or so has resulted in a few reports of moderate, lasting brain damage, particularly effecting the controls of movement. Long-term misuse of aerosols and cleaning fluids has been known to cause lasting kidney and liver damage. Repeated sniffing of leaded petrol may result in lead poisoning.