Nitrogen–Plastic Bag Suicide

Abstract

The use of pure nitrogen gas to commit suicide has recently become more popular, although suicides involving nitrogen oxide fumes have been occasionally reported in the past. The cause of death in such cases is attributed to asphyxia due to forced depletion of oxygen, a subcategory of a phenomenon dubbed environmental hypoxia. A case of a 26-year-old man who committed suicide by inhaling nitrogen through a plastic bag is reported. The exact method of suicide used here is one of the many described in detail on the Web.

Brain MRI Findings of Nitrogen Gas Inhalation for Suicide Attempt: a Case Report

“…Nitrogen gas has caused accidental deaths in industrial or laboratory explosion, and during scuba diving and anesthesia (2). Although it is reported that industrial nitrogen asphyxiation hazards resulted in 80 deaths during the period 1992 through 2002, there is a paucity of documentation regarding nitrogen gas as a means of committing suicide (2,3). Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, nontoxic, and generally inert gas that is a normal component (78.09%) of the atmosphere, at standard temperature and pressure (4).…”

“…Recently, several organizations and internet communities in favor of assisted suicide have promoted the use of nitrogen (N2) gas to that end (2). Nitrogen gas has caused accidental deaths in industrial or laboratory explosion, and during scuba diving and anesthesia (2). Although it is reported that industrial nitrogen asphyxiation hazards resulted in 80 deaths during the period 1992 through 2002, there is a paucity of documentation regarding nitrogen gas as a means of committing suicide (2,3).…”

“…Recently, several organizations and internet communities in favor of assisted suicide have promoted the use of nitrogen (N2) gas to that end (2). Nitrogen gas has caused accidental deaths in industrial or laboratory explosion, and during scuba diving and anesthesia (2).…”

“…Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, nontoxic, and generally inert gas that is a normal component (78.09%) of the atmosphere, at standard temperature and pressure (4). However, nitrogen can be hazardous when it displaces oxygen resulting in hypoxic damage (2,3). Nitrogen intoxication manifests with various symptoms such as progressive fatigue, loss of coordination, purposeful movement and balance, nausea, a complete inability to move and unconsciousness (2,4).…”

“…However, nitrogen can be hazardous when it displaces oxygen resulting in hypoxic damage (2,3). Nitrogen intoxication manifests with various symptoms such as progressive fatigue, loss of coordination, purposeful movement and balance, nausea, a complete inability to move and unconsciousness (2,4). Here, we describe a case of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings associated with nitrogen gas inhalation, which have been rarely reported previously.…”