Pulmonary edema may develop and may be complicated by bronchopneumonia. High concentrations produce violent, burning pain in the eyes and nose, lacrimation, sneezing, pain in the chest, cough, spasm of the glottis, and pulmonary edema. Often there is a temporary reflex cessation of respiration with spasm of the glottis. Edema of the glottis at a later period may seriously interfere with breathing. Concentrations of 0.1 percent are intolerable to humans.
Treatment consists of prompt removal to pure air and administration of assisted ventilation.
Later measures are directed toward the treatment of pulmonary edema, bronchitis, and pneumonia. The mortality is high following severe exposure. With low concentrations, recovery is usually rapid although bronchitis may persist. Hazards Caused by Fire a. Fire produced by explosions, incendiaries, or other causes creates extreme problems. In fires, death may be caused not only by blast and direct flame but by anoxia, CO, heat, nitrous fumes, toxic fumes from burning plastics, and smoke.