WEBVTT - Why is dry ice dangerous?

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to brain Stuff from how stuff works dot com

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<v Speaker 1>where smart Happens. Hi Am Marshall Brain with today's question,

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<v Speaker 1>why is dry ice dangerous? There are two things that

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<v Speaker 1>can make dry ice dangerous. The first is its temperature,

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<v Speaker 1>and the second is the carbon diox eye gas it

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<v Speaker 1>gives off. If you ever have a chance to handle

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<v Speaker 1>dry ice, you want to be sure to wear heavy gloves.

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<v Speaker 1>The super cold surface temperature can easily damage your skin

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<v Speaker 1>if you touch it directly. For the same reason, you

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<v Speaker 1>never want to taste or swallow dry ice either. Another

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<v Speaker 1>important concern with dry ice is ventilation. You want to

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<v Speaker 1>make sure that the area is very well ventilated. Carbon

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<v Speaker 1>dioxide is heavier than air and it can concentrate in

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<v Speaker 1>low areas or in enclosed spaces like a car or

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<v Speaker 1>a room. Normal air is eight percent nitrogen oxygen and

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<v Speaker 1>hardly any carbon dioxide at all. If the concentration of

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<v Speaker 1>carbon dioxide in the air rises above five, carbon dioxide

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<v Speaker 1>can become toxic. Be sure to ventilate any area that

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<v Speaker 1>contains dry ice, and do not transport it in a

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<v Speaker 1>closed vehicle. Be sure to check out our new video podcast,

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