Inert gas asphyxiation

Insufficient oxygen in breathed air

Inert gas asphyxiation is a form of asphyxiation which results from breathing a physiologically inert gas in the absence of oxygen, or a low amount of oxygen (hypoxia),[1] rather than atmospheric air (which is composed largely of nitrogen and oxygen). Examples of physiologically inert gases, which have caused accidental or deliberate death by this mechanism, are argon, helium and nitrogen.[citation needed] The term "physiologically inert" is used to indicate a gas which has no toxic or anesthetic properties and does not act upon the heart or hemoglobin. Instead, the gas acts as a simple diluent to reduce the oxygen concentration in inspired gas and blood to dangerously low levels, thereby eventually depriving cells in the body of oxygen.[2]

According to the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, in humans, "breathing an oxygen deficient atmosphere can have serious and immediate effects, including unconsciousness after only one or two breaths. The exposed person has no warning and cannot sense that the oxygen level is too low." In the US, at least 80 people died from accidental nitrogen asphyxiation between 1992 and 2002.[3] Hazards with inert gases and the risks of asphyxiation are well-established.[4]

An occasional cause of accidental death in humans, inert gas asphyxia has been used as a suicide method. Inert gas asphyxia has been advocated by proponents of euthanasia, using a gas-retaining plastic hood device colloquially referred to as a suicide bag.

Nitrogen asphyxiation has been approved in some places as a method of capital punishment. In the world's first instance of its use, on January 25, 2024, Alabama executed convicted murderer Kenneth Eugene Smith via this method. It was used once again in the execution of Alan Eugene Miller on September 26, 2024, the execution of Carey Dale Grayson on November 21, 2024, the execution of Demetrius Terrence Frazier on February 6, 2025, the execution of Jessie Hoffman Jr. on March 18, 2025, and the execution of Gregory Hunt on June 10, 2025.[5]

Alternatively, the term hypoxia has been used but this usage is flawed given that hypoxia does not necessarily imply death. On the other hand, asphyxiation is technically incorrect given respiration continues and the carbon dioxide metabolically produced from the oxygen inhaled prior to inert gas asphyxiation can be exhaled without restriction, which can prevent acidosis and the strong urge to breathe caused by hypercapnia.[6]

## Process

[edit]

When humans breathe in an asphyxiant gas or any other physiologically inert gas, they exhale carbon dioxide without re-supplying oxygen. Physiologically inert gases (those that have no toxic effect, but merely dilute oxygen) are generally free of odor and taste. Accordingly, the human subject detects little abnormal sensation as the oxygen level falls. This leads to asphyxiation (death from lack of oxygen) without the painful and traumatic feeling of suffocation (the hypercapnic alarm response, which in humans arises mostly from carbon dioxide levels rising), or the side effects of poisoning. In scuba diving rebreather accidents, a slow decrease in oxygen breathing gas content can produce variable or no sensation.[7] By contrast, suddenly breathing pure inert gas causes oxygen levels in the blood to fall precipitously, and may lead to unconsciousness in only a few breaths, with no symptoms at all.[3]

Some animals are better equipped than humans to detect hypoxia, and these species are less comfortable in low-oxygen environments that result from inert gas exposure, though more averse to CO2 exposure.[8]

## Physiology

[edit]

A typical human breathes between 12 and 20 times per minute at a rate influenced primarily by carbon dioxide concentration, and thus pH, in the blood. With each breath, a volume of about 0.6 litres is exchanged from an active lung volume of about three litres. The normal composition of the Earth's atmosphere is about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% argon, carbon dioxide, and other gases. After just two or three breaths of nitrogen, the oxygen concentration in the lungs would be low enough for some oxygen already in the bloodstream to exchange back to the lungs and be eliminated by exhalation.

Unconsciousness in cases of accidental asphyxia can occur within one minute. Loss of consciousness results from critical hypoxia, when arterial oxygen saturation is less than 60%.[9] "At oxygen concentrations [in air] of 4 to 6%, there is loss of consciousness in 40 seconds and death within a few minutes".[10] At an altitude over 43,000 ft (13,000 m), where the ambient oxygen concentration is equivalent to a concentration of 3.6% at sea level, an average individual can perform flying duties efficiently for only 9 to 12 seconds without oxygen supplementation.[9] The US Air Force trains air crews to recognize their subjective signs of approaching hypoxia. Some individuals experience headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and euphoria, and some become unconscious without warning.[9]

Loss of consciousness may be accompanied by convulsions[9] and is followed by cyanosis and cardiac arrest. In a 1963 study by the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine,[11] subjects were asked to hyperventilate in a nitrogen atmosphere. Among the results:

> When the duration of over-ventilation with nitrogen was greater than 8–10 sec the subject reported a transient dimming of vision. In the experiments in which nitrogen breathing was carried out for 15–16 sec the subject experienced some general clouding of consciousness and impairment of vision. Vision was frequently lost in these experiments for a short period. In the few experiments in which nitrogen was breathed for 17–20 sec unconsciousness supervened and was accompanied on most occasions by a generalized convulsion. The duration of the interval between the start of over-ventilation with nitrogen and the onset of symptoms was 12–14 sec.

The study did not report how much discomfort the subjects felt.[11]

## Animals

[edit]

### Slaughter

[edit]

Main article: Animal slaughter

Controlled atmosphere killing (CAK) or controlled atmosphere stunning (CAS) is a method for slaughtering or stunning animals such as swine, poultry,[12] or cane toads by placing the animals in a container in which the atmosphere lacks oxygen and consists of an asphyxiant gas (one or more of argon, nitrogen or carbon dioxide), causing the animals to lose consciousness. Argon and nitrogen are important components of a gassing process which seem to cause no pain, and for this reason many consider some types of controlled atmosphere killing more humane than other methods of killing.[13][14] Most animals are stunned by carbon dioxide.[15][16]

If carbon dioxide is used, controlled atmosphere killing is not the same as inert gas asphyxia, because carbon dioxide at high concentrations (above 5%) is not biologically inert, but rather is toxic and also produces initial distress in some animal species.[17] The addition of toxic carbon dioxide to hypoxic atmospheres used in slaughter without animal distress is a complex and highly species-specific matter, which also depends on the concentration of carbon dioxide.[18][19][20]

### Euthanasia

[edit]

Diving animals such as rats and minks and burrowing animals are sensitive to low-oxygen atmospheres and will avoid them. For this reason, the use of inert gas (hypoxic) atmospheres (without CO2) for euthanasia is also species-specific.[21]

## Accidental deaths and injury

[edit]

Accidental nitrogen asphyxiation is a possible hazard where large quantities of nitrogen are used. It causes several deaths per year in the United States,[22] which is asserted to be more than from any other industrial gas. In one accident in 1981, shortly before the launch of the first Space Shuttle mission, five technicians lost consciousness and two of them died after they entered the aft compartment of the orbiter. Nitrogen had been used to flush oxygen from the compartment as a precaution against fire. They were not wearing air packs because of a last-minute change in safety procedures.[23]

During a pool party in Mexico in 2013, eight party-goers were rendered unconscious and one 21-year-old male went into a coma after liquid nitrogen was poured into the pool.[24][25]

Occasional deaths are reported from recreational inhalation of helium, but these are very rarely from direct inhalation from small balloons. The inhalation from larger helium balloons has been reportedly fatal.[26] A fatal fall from a tree occurred after the inhalation of helium from a toy balloon, which caused the person to become either unconscious or lightheaded.[27]

In 2015, a technician at a health spa was asphyxiated while conducting unsupervised cryotherapy using nitrogen.[28][29]

In 2021, six people died of asphyxiation and 11 more were hospitalized following a liquid nitrogen leak at a poultry plant in Gainesville, Georgia.[30][31]

## Suicide

[edit]

Main article: Suicide bag

Use of inert gas for suicide was first proposed by a Canadian, Dr Bruce Dunn.[32] Dunn commented that "...the acquisition of a compressed gas cylinder, an appropriate pressure reducing regulator, and suitable administration equipment... [was] not inaccessible to a determined individual, but relatively difficult for a member of the public to acquire casually or quickly".[33] Dunn collaborated with other researchers, notably the Canadian campaigner John Hofsess, who in 1997 formed the group "NuTech" with Derek Humphry and Philip Nitschke.[34] Two years later, NuTech had streamlined Dunn's work by using readily-available party balloon cylinders of helium.[35]

The method of suicide based on self-administration of helium in a bag, a colloquial name being the "exit bag" or suicide bag, has been referenced by some medical euthanasia advocacy groups.[36] Originally, such bags were used with helium, and 30 deaths were reported with use of them from 2001 to 2005, and another 79 from 2005 to 2009. This suggested to one set of reviewers that the popularity of the technique was increasing, as also did the increase in helium suicides in Sweden during the latter half of the same decade.[37]

After attempts were made by authorities to control helium sales in Australia, a new method was introduced that instead uses nitrogen.[38] Nitrogen became the main gas promoted by euthanasia advocates, such as Philip Nitschke, who founded a company called Max Dog Brewing in order to import canisters of nitrogen into Australia.[39] Nitschke stated that the gas cylinders can be used for both brewing and, if required, to end life at a later stage in a "peaceful, reliable [and] totally legal" manner.[40] Nitschke said that nitrogen is "undetectable even by autopsy, which was important to some people".[41]

Nitschke produced a 3D printed pod, "Sarco", that fills with nitrogen at the push of a button, claiming to cause its user to become unconscious within a minute and then die of oxygen deprivation.[42][43]

## Capital punishment

[edit]

### History

[edit]

Execution by nitrogen asphyxiation was discussed briefly in print as a theoretical method of capital punishment in a 1995 National Review article.[44] The idea was then proposed by Lawrence J. Gist II, an attorney at law, under the title, International Humanitarian Hypoxia Project.[45]

In a televised documentary in 2007, the British political commentator and former MP Michael Portillo examined execution techniques in use around the world and found them unsatisfactory; his conclusion was that nitrogen asphyxiation would be the best method.[46]

In April 2015, Governor Mary Fallin of Oklahoma signed a bill allowing nitrogen asphyxiation as an alternative execution method.[47][48] Three years later, in March 2018, Oklahoma announced that, due to the difficulty in procuring lethal injection drugs, nitrogen gas would be used to carry out executions.[49][50] After making "good progress" in designing a nitrogen execution protocol, but not actually carrying out any executions, Oklahoma announced in February 2020 it had found a new reliable source of lethal injection drugs, but would continue working on nitrogen execution as a contingency method.[51]

In March 2018, Alabama became the third state (after Oklahoma and Mississippi), to authorize the use of nitrogen asphyxiation as a method of execution.[52]

In August 2023, the Alabama Department of Corrections released its protocol for nitrogen hypoxia executions, designating Kenneth Eugene Smith, convicted of murder for hire in 1996, as the first death row inmate to undergo this method.[53][54][55] On November 1, the Supreme Court of Alabama authorized the execution to go ahead using the nitrogen hypoxia protocol.[55] On 25 January 2024, he became the first person to be executed by nitrogen hypoxia in the world.[56] Though the State Attorney General said afterward that Smith's execution showed that nitrogen hypoxia was an "effective and humane method of execution",[57] several people watching the execution reported that Smith "thrashed violently on the gurney"[56] for several minutes, with his death reportedly occurring 10 minutes after the nitrogen was administered to the chamber.[58][59] The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned the use.[60]

On September 26, 2024, Alan Eugene Miller became the second convicted man put to death by way of nitrogen gas, in Alabama, followed by both Carey Dale Grayson and Demetrius Terrence Frazier on November 21, 2024, and February 6, 2025, respectively.

On March 5, 2024, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed a law allowing executions to be carried out via nitrogen gas.[61] A year after Louisiana approved the method, convicted rapist-killer Jessie Hoffman Jr. became the first inmate executed by nitrogen hypoxia in Louisiana on March 18, 2025, making Louisiana the second state to carry out nitrogen gas executions, while at the same time putting an end to the state of Louisiana's 15-year pause on executions.[62]

After Smith's execution, several other states became open to the possibility of legally carrying out nitrogen gas executions. Lawmakers from Ohio, where a moratorium is in effect since the state's last execution in 2018, were considering legalizing nitrogen gas as a new method of execution aside from lethal injection.[63][64][65]

In March 2025, the Arkansas Legislature voted for a bill that authorized the use of nitrogen asphyxiation as a method of execution.[66][67][68] Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed the Bill into law on March 18, 2025.[69]

As of 2025, Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Louisiana are the only states that authorize the use of nitrogen asphyxiation as a method of execution.

In the case Bucklew v. Precythe in 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a Missouri death row inmate with cavernous hemangioma, a rare disorder that causes swelling of blood-filled cavities, could not avoid death by lethal injection and choose inert gas asphyxiation using nitrogen, since it had never been used in any execution in the world.[70]

### List of people executed by nitrogen hypoxia

[edit]

As of June 2025, six people were executed by nitrogen hypoxia, five in Alabama and one in Louisiana.

* Kenneth Eugene Smith (January 25, 2024; Alabama)[71]
* Alan Eugene Miller (September 26, 2024; Alabama)[72]
* Carey Dale Grayson (November 21, 2024; Alabama)[73]
* Demetrius Terrence Frazier (February 6, 2025; Alabama)[74]
* Jessie Hoffman Jr. (March 18, 2025; Louisiana)[75]
* Gregory Hunt (June 10, 2025; Alabama)[76]

## See also

[edit]

* Gas chamber, a chamber for death by asphyxiation or poisoning

## References

[edit]

1. ^ European Industrial Gases Association (2009), Hazards of Inert Gases and Oxygen Depletion, Archived 2017-05-17 at the Wayback Machine, IGC Doc 44/09/E
2. ^ "Argon, hydrogen, helium, and nitrogen are inert gases that cause asphyxiation if present in high enough concentration to dilute O2 in the inspired air to dangerous levels. ... Asphyxia, which is synonymous with respiratory failure, can be defined as insufficient oxygen at the cellular level. ... Simple asphyxiants are gases that are physiologically inert. They do not suppress cardiac output or alter the function of the hemoglobin. Rather, they cause asphyxiation only when present in high enough concentration to lower the concentration of O2 in the inspired air to levels at which the SaO2 and PaO2 fall, resulting in inadequate O2 delivery to tissues." Quoted from Simple Asphyxiants, Mark Wilkenfield, M.D. Chapter 34, pp. 556–7. in: Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Editors William N. Rom, Steven B. Markawitz. 4th Edition, Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007. ISBN 0781762995, 9780781762991.
3. ^ a b Chemical Safety Board Bulletin Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine This is a government summary of accidental 80 nitrogen inhalation deaths, mostly in occupational circumstances. For a presentation form with additional material, see [1] Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
4. ^ "Hazards of Inert Gases and Oxygen Depletion". Singapore: Asia Industrial Gases Association.
5. ^ "Alabama puts to death Kenneth Smith in first known execution using nitrogen gas". CNN. 25 January 2024. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
6. ^ Copland, Michael; Parr, Thom; Paras, Christine. Nitrogen Induced Hypoxia as a Form of Capital Punishment (PDF) (Report). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-10-22. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
7. ^ Hamilton, RW (Bill) (March 1997). "Rebreather physiology review" (PDF). SPUMS Journal. 27 (1). Archived from the original on 2014-12-04. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
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12. ^ Doorn, Dick Van (2016-03-16). "CO2 stunning for poultry - worldwide interest". Poultry World. Archived from the original on 2023-09-24. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
13. ^ PETA's Animal Times, UK, Autumn 2005
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23. ^ "Shuttle Tragedy". Time. 30 March 1981. Archived from the original on February 6, 2008.
24. ^ "Liquid nitrogen at Jägermeister Mexican pool party sickens guests: one man in a coma, eight others ill". NY Daily Times. Archived from the original on 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2014-11-16.
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26. ^ "2 College Students Found Dead Inside Helium Balloon in Florida". Fox News. 2006-06-04. Archived from the original on 2013-06-19. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
27. ^ Lung ruptures and fatal gas embolisms have occurred from inhalation from a pressure tank and although this was reported as a helium inhalation death, it differs greatly from the process of inert gas asphyxiation. See gas embolism helium death
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30. ^ Amy, Jeff (January 28, 2021). "Liquid nitrogen leak at Georgia poultry plant kills 6". Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
31. ^ Sharpe, Joshua (March 12, 2021). "Cause of death released for Gainesville poultry plant workers". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
32. ^ Dunn B, Nitrogen and other Inert Gases. In: Smith K, Docker C, Hofsess J, Dunn B, "Beyond Final Exit", published by the Right to Die Society of Canada 1995, pp.65-71. The book was distributed internationally by Canadian, American, and British organizations. See also Exit (Right-to-Die Organisation)
33. ^ "Dunn B, Beyond Final Exit, p.70. Dunn's work and other chapters from Beyond Final Exit was also publicised on the Canadian website (now offline) called DeathNET. Côte R, In Search of Gentle Death, Corinthian Books 2012, page 314.
34. ^ See: Euthanasia device
35. ^ Humphry, Derek (2014). "Obtaining drugs via the internet and using helium hood kits" Archived 2015-09-17 at the Wayback Machine. finalexit.org.
36. ^ Grassberger M, Krauskopf A (2007). "Suicidal asphyxiation with helium: report of three cases". Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. 119 (9–10): 323–5\. doi:10.1007/s00508-007-0785-4. PMID 17571238. S2CID 22894287.9–10&rft.pages=323-5&rft.date=2007&rft_id=https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:22894287#id-name=S2CID&rft_id=info:pmid/17571238&rft_id=info:doi/10.1007/s00508-007-0785-4&rft.aulast=Grassberger&rft.aufirst=M&rft.au=Krauskopf,+A&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Inert+gas+asphyxiation" class="Z3988">
37. ^ Austin A, Winskog C, van den Heuvel C, Byard RW (May 2011). "Recent trends in suicides utilizing helium". J. Forensic Sci. 56 (3): 649–51\. doi:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01723.x. PMID 21361949. S2CID 30521706.
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39. ^ "Death in a Can: Australia's Euthanasia Loophole". VICE Australia. VICE Media LLC. 2014-07-04. Archived from the original on 2015-02-26. Retrieved 2015-04-11.
40. ^ Sexton, Mike (18 December 2012). "Euthanasia campaigner under scrutiny". ABC. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
41. ^ Orr, Aleisha (3 May 2013). "Euthanasia group to show West Aussies how to die 'well'". WAToday. Archived from the original on 7 May 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
42. ^ Mark, Julian (December 9, 2021). "In the works for years, a suicide machine will soon be tested in Switzerland". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021.
43. ^ Paris, Adam Sage (29 October 2024). "Suicide pod boss detained amid 'strangulation mark' claims". www.thetimes.com.
44. ^ Creque, S.A. "Killing with kindness – capital punishment by nitrogen asphyxiation" National Review. 1995-9-11.
45. ^ International Humanitarian Hypoxia Project. gistprobono.org.
46. ^ "How to Kill a Human Being – in search of a painless death". VideoSift. Archived from the original on 2009-02-25. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
47. ^ "Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin signs bill allowing nitrogen asphyxiation as alternative execution method". NewsOK.com. Archived from the original on 2018-04-23. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
48. ^ "Oklahoma governor signs 'foolproof' nitrogen gas execution method". The Guardian. Associated Press. 18 April 2015. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
49. ^ "Oklahoma Turns to Nitrogen Gas for Executions". Live Science. 15 March 2018. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
50. ^ Mark Berman (March 18, 2018). "Oklahoma says it will begin using nitrogen for all executions in an unprecedented move". Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
51. ^ "Oklahoma Attorney general says state will resume executions". nypost.com. 13 February 2020. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
52. ^ "Alabama 3rd state to allow execution by nitrogen gas". Associated Press. 22 March 2018. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
53. ^ Harcourt, Bernard E. (18 September 2023). "Alabama Has a Horrible New Way of Killing People on Death Row". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
54. ^ Allen, Jonathan (22 September 2023). "Alabama seeks to execute prisoner using nitrogen gas asphyxiation". Reuters. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
55. ^ a b "Alabama court approves nitrogen gas as new method for executions". The Guardian. Associated Press. 2 November 2023. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
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58. ^ Roney, Marty (26 January 2024). "Nitrogen gas execution: Kenneth Smith convulses for four minutes in Alabama death chamber". Montgomery Advertiser. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
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63. ^ Carr Smyth, Julie (January 30, 2024). "After Alabama pioneers nitrogen gas execution, Ohio may be poised to follow". AP News. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
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66. ^ [2]
67. ^ "Arkansas Legislature approves executions using nitrogen hypoxia". March 12, 2025.
68. ^ "Arkansas lawmakers approve nitrogen gas execution bill, await governor's signature". March 12, 2025.
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71. ^ "Alabama carries out nation's first known execution with nitrogen gas. Here's what we know". CNN. January 26, 2024. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
72. ^ Roney, Jonathan Limehouse and Marty. "Alan Eugene Miller becomes second inmate in US to be executed with nitrogen gas". USA TODAY. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
73. ^ "'Society failed': Murder victim's daughter condemns execution". BBC. November 22, 2024.
74. ^ "US executes serial rapist, murderer with nitrogen gas in controversial first; UN condemns method". Malay Mail. February 6, 2025.
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76. ^ "Alabama executes a man by nitrogen gas for the beating death of a woman in 1988". Associated Press. June 11, 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* NIOSH respirator fact sheet
* U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
* Restraint asphyxia
* The Welfare of Birds at Slaughter: Humane Society of the United States comparison of controlled-atmosphere killing (CAK) to electrical water-bath stunning
* Controlled Atmosphere Killing: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
* Nitrogen Induced Hypoxia as a Form of Capital Punishment, by Michael P. Copeland, J.D., Thom Parr, M.S., and Christine Pappas, J.D., Ph.D.
* Execution by Nitrogen Hypoxia: Search for Scientific Consensus, by Kevin M. Morrow, J.D.

* v
* t
* e

Capital punishment

Current judicial methods|

* Hanging
* Shooting
* firing squad
* Lethal injection
* Nitrogen hypoxia
* Electrocution
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* Beheading
* Stoning

Ancient and
post-classical
methods|

* Damnatio ad bestias
* Blood eagle
* Blowing from a gun
* Brazen bull
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* Breaking wheel
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* Immurement
* Impalement
* Ishikozume
* Mazzatello
* Sawing
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* Upright jerker
* Waist chop

Related topics|

* Enforcement or use by country
* Most recent executions by country
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* list
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* Wrongful execution
* Botched execution
* Resolutions concerning death penalty at the United Nations
* Capital punishment for drug trafficking
* Capital punishment for homosexuality
* Trial by ordeal

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