In 2018 in Washington, four coolers full of dry ice stored in the back seat of a passenger car resulted in the death of one person and the hospitalization of another.
Dry ice, which is a solid form of carbon dioxide, transforms (sublimates) to gas when exposed to open air. The effect can be dangerous in confined, non-ventilated spaces. It releases potentially substantial volumes of CO2, which can displace oxygen very quickly in confined spaces. This can result in breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness, and even death.
How to Minimize the Risks:
- Handling – Always protect your hands and eyes when using dry ice.
- Storage – Never store dry ice in poorly ventilated enclosed areas, like walk-in freezers or vehicles. Don’t store in air-tight containers. The CO2 gas can pressurize the container and cause it to eventually rupture or explode.
- Transport – If you must transport dry ice, use a truck so that the container won’t be inside the vehicle compartment. If a truck is not available, keep car windows open.
- Disposal – Allowing dry ice to sublimate at room temperature is an effective disposal method, but make sure that you do so in a well-ventilated area, like a laboratory.
- Never dispose of dry ice in a toilet or sink. The extreme cold can damage plumbing.
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.