Lately, we have received numerous calls and emails about airbags causing breathing difficulties. Most people wonder whether airbag deployment has been linked to such problems, especially when someone already has asthma or other conditions that affect breathing and respiration.
The answer is clearly YES.
The automotive industry has known for many, many years that air bag deployment can cause breathing problems, and that those problems can be especially severe when a person has pre-existing respiratory conditions. Here’s why:
Air bag deployment is often based on the burning of chemicals. The most widely used chemical is sodium azide. When it burns, it generates not only nitrogen gas that fills the airbag, but also numerous by-products. In this way, it is similar to the burning of gas in your engine creating numerous by-products that come out of your exhaust system. Although other airbag inflators may use stored gas, they also have a “heating element”, which means another chemical that is burned to heat and expand the gas that inflates the airbag. Because no combustion is 100% pure, there are always by-products produced by all of these inflators.
The by-products fall within two broad categories: gases and particulates. Gases that are produced can include those that have been linked to severe injuries, such as benzene and toluene. Particulates are small particles that are suspended in the air, which appear as smoke or dust. They are the reason that many people report seeing smoke in their car after an airbag deploys. This is because all airbags have venting, either through the porous fabric or through vent holes, that allow the smoke to escape from the airbag, as seen in this photo:
Collectively, gases and particulates from an air bag are called “effluent”, which simply means they flow out from the air bag during deployment.
The concerns over the harm that could be caused by these airbag chemicals led the Society of Automotive Engineers to create a standard for measuring these by-products. That standard lists numerous chemicals that should be measured by the manufacturers to determine the risk of injury posed by their inflators.
More than a decade ago, General Motors conducted tests to evaluate the effects of these chemicals on people exposed to air bag deployment. I know, since I personally saw such testing. I provided a car for the testing, as well as many air bag modules, and the testing was conducted by scientists at the General Motors Research Laboratories. The results were astounding.
Volunteers were used for such testing. They sat in the back seat of the car, with medical professionals supervising the testing. There were also numerous instruments in the vehicle to measure the amount of gases and particulates, as well as their types and sizes. The intent was to have the volunteer stay in the car, with the windows up, for 20 minutes following deployment. During that period of time, the volunteers’ physiological signs were monitored, including their breathing rate. In at least one case, the volunteer could not stand it, and needed to get out of the car almost right away. His measurements showed significant distress!
That testing also showed that the most vulnerable people were those who had other, pre-existing conditions affecting their ability to breathe. For example, people with asthma were at risk. The more severe the asthma, the higher the risk from air bag deployment. Several people have reported very significant respiratory injuries from airbag deployment; we have even heard of one death attributed to air bag deployment. The worst injuries occur if a person cannot exit the vehicle right away (for example, if they are knocked out, or if the doors won’t open after the accident), and the windows are closed.
That same testing program also evaluated the effect of air bag deployment on a person’s hearing. That will be the subject of a separate post.
My wife and I were in a car accident in may 2008. We both have no history of asthma or breathing problems and we do not smoke. We both developed breathing problems in the fall of 2008 that are very asthma like and persistant. I started searching the internet on this topic and now I am convinced that our chronic conditions were developed from the airbag deployment. I will be pursuing this more.
car accident.
this weekend.
getting sick from air bag dust.
heart beats racing ,coughing,etc.
I am an EMT with my local Rescue Squad. This week on a MVA I was first on scene so therefore my job is to enter the vehicle and assess the patient. The crash involved extrication which caused prolonged exposure to gases caused by air bag deployment. I was in the vehicle for about a total of 10 minutes. I have had a sore throat for the last 24 hrs along with conjestion and coughing. I will now use a mask during any MVA.
Michael – that sounds like a good precaution to take. This is especially true when the passenger compartment has been “sealed”, meaning that no windows were broken, since the gases and particulates will tend to accumulate and settle on or in the interior trim pieces and fabric. Better to be safe than sorry.
my wife was recently in a crash in her 2009 ACURA RL. The front end was smashed and one air bag deployed. All the locks and windows and the trunk shut down and refused to work. She was stuck in the car breathing the airbag gasses for about 10 minutes until someone was able to break a window and get her out. After a call to Acura, we were promised a call back but have yet to receive one. Could this have cause permanent damage to her?
There is no question that the chemicals in air bags can cause breathing difficulties. Whether they cause breathing difficulties in a particular person, and how long those difficulties last, depends not only on the accident circumstances, but also on the person and their physiology. I recommend that your wife promptly consult with her physician to discuss your concerns and help you answer your question.
I certainly wish you and your wife all the best.
I have been working in the crash testing field for the last 17 years. I have had repeat prolonged exposure to airbag dust and inflators. no one has been able to tell me what the byproducts of the airbags are, or even if they are harmful for prolonged repeat exposure. The standard answer we get is “it produces nitrogen” how can the combination of the propelant and the intiator create an element and nothing else? What am I being exposed to and what are my risks?
Robert – the standard answer you are getting is incomplete and can be misleading. Yes, most air bag inflators produce nitrogen gas. However, they also produce numerous other byproducts during the combustion process, including both gases and particles. It is similar to the combustion of fuel in your engine that leads to numerous byproducts. They can include chemicals such as toluene and benzene, depending on the formulation of the propellant. Each inflator type can have different chemicals, and in different proportions. Because of this, the airbag industry has developed a test procedure for testing for those chemicals, including a list of chemicals that should be monitored in those tests. I recommend you speak with your safety coordinator at your place of employment, as there are precautions that should be taken to minimize the risk of your exposure to those chemicals.
Acura told me that there is Talc in the airbags to help them expand and not stick. They took the talc out of medical exam gloves. So if you are breathing in the talc, it could be like breathing in asbestos.
Some also say that certain cars used corn starch in their air bags. Although I’m not a medical doctor (and don’t even play one on TV), I would be concerned with any chemical that can cause effects even remotely resembling those from exposure to asbestos.
There’s also another issue with that statement about air bags containing talcum powder. That’s like saying the exhaust of a car contains “air”. While true, it ignores the fact that the gases and particles that are emitted during air bag deployment may also contain numerous other chemicals, including those that may be hazardous and carcinogenic. Not mentioning those potentially significant chemicals is a significant omission and can be misleading.
I was in my 4th car accident 5 days ago. I’ve been in a car when the air bag deploys and i’ve never seen that much dust come out of an air bag. I literally couldn’t see in my car, or breath. Since then i’ve been coughing constantly and my lungs have a slight burning feeling.
My sister was just in a car accident and now the inside of
her mouth is brown and so is her tongue!!! She is just getting
over cancer and they took her spleen and I am concerned.
I was in a car accident 5 days ago.I thaught my car was on fire there was so much dust that came out of the air bag.Since then i’ve been coughing constantly.So much that I cannot sleep at night.
I was in an auto accident in 1995. The airbag deployed and I believe it ruptured since the cabin was filled with smoke and dust and my right hand and lower arm was severely burned. I sat in the car and called for help and remined in the car until help arrived (my car was totalled). During the following 10 to 12 years I developed upper respiratory infections that increased in severity. During the past 3 years, my lung function has decreased to the point that I am on supplemental oxygen and have 40% lung function left. After two trips to the Mayo Clinic and numerous lung function tests, I am convinced that my lung problem was caused by inhaling the chemical of this air bag.
While driving my 2003 Ford Van on Monday morning when I was hit by a drunk driver. Both front airbags deployed. I have been coughing regularly throughout the day since (now 10 days). The cough is clearly coming from chemical exposure. The sensation in the lungs is that of a chemical disturbance (burning/irritation) causing the cough.
I was involved in a car accident in 2008 in a 1994 Infiniti Q 45 as soon as my air bag deployed i had a loss of breath as if I was gasping for air it almost 2 years later and I still have shortness of breath. I had to receive a breathing treatment at the hospital the day of the wreck and hasn’t been right since.
Airbags deployed in 2005 Mercury Sable, the car immediately filled up with smoke and white dust. We were choking and could not even see.
18 days ago i was in a car accident where the airbags deployed and the powder exploded out. since then i’ve lost half my voice to the point where it is very raspy. ive been taking lots of soothing homeopathic meds and drinking honey tea but it just wont come back. also, taking deep breaths (inhaling) are difficult. i wish i could feel normal again.
my kids and I were involved in a car accident about 2 1/2 months ago. both front airbags deployed and unfortunately, since the accident my 8 year old daughter has had many issues with her respiratory system. My daughter, since the day of the accident kept on saying that the airbag had done something to her. she keeps on complaining of shortness of breath, pain on her chest, and pain on her back which the doctors say is pain on her left lung. Doctors are able to hear something on her left lung but have not been able to see anything. they believe is something that she inhale from the airbag.
I was in an accident 2 weeks ago. The airbag deployed and I was in my car for 5 mins breathing in the dust. 2 days after the accident I started having breathing problems, I’ve been coughing and my lungs ache. After reading everyones comments I’m glad I now know what I need to talk to my doctor about.
I had an accident where all airbags were deployed. I was in the car for 5-10 mins, unable to see (because of the chemical cloud) and when I got out my mouth and throat burned. Days after, I developed bronchitis and here it is two months later and I’m still coughing and have the slight taste of the chemical when I do cough. My car was a 2011 model and I cannot believe that this sort of horrible chemical is used for “safety”.
I was in an accident a week ago The airbag deployed and I consumed a large amount of the dust/smoke and coughed so much I had to go to the Doctor for my stomach, the air bag also gave me 2nd degree burns on my chin, neck and chest. my neck looks like it will be disfigured for life if I do not get some type of plastic surgery.
I was in a car accident 16 days ago in my 2006 Ford Escape. My airbag went off and left a 3rd degree burn that covers half of my forearm almost all the way around. It was very swollen for 24hours following the accident and in the next days I developed hideous orange, black, and purple blisters which constantly filled with fluid all day until they burst open. Next, a rash formed on and all around the burn which has been painless but the muscles underneath and the ulna bone are very painful. There’s no bruising on the skin though and I am fearful that the chemicals from the contact have damaged my muscles and bones because I can’t hold my arm up or even leave it hanging by my side. A sling is most comfortable however it still radiates with pain almost down to my elbow.
Could this be serious? Should I go back to the ER? What are the effects of chemical contact burns from airbags? I don’t want to lose the ability to move/feel my arm.
I was in an accident 3 days ago and breathed in much dust from 1994 volvo. my throat had been sore since – very thirsty – and my asthma worse…glad i found this website.
I was in a car accident on 8/5/11. As the driver my airbag did deploy. I was sandwiched between 2 cars. I do realize that the airbag probably did save my life, however the after effect of the dust and smoke from the airbag are overwhelming. It has been two weeks and I still feel like I am having difficulties breathing, I am continually cophing and my voice is horce. After reading all of these comments, maybe I should go to the dr as I know I have quiet a bit of irritation in my lungs.
I was in an accident last week. The airbags in the front deployed. I did get minor burns on my wrists which are almost healed. Thanks to hearing from all of you, I now know that I will be talking to my doctor as soon as possible. I have asthma which is normally controlled this week it has gotten much worse and pretty much nonresponsive to my regular meds. I did get out of the truck ASAP, but until it came to a hault, I was stuck breathing those chemicals. Thanks for the info!
If you have any concerns at all about your breathing or any other aspect of your health, please see a doctor as soon as you can. Your health and safety should always be your top concern.
I was recently in a car accident in wich all airbags, stearing wheel, side and seat side airbags went off. My door was also stuck shut due to the inpact and all windows were up. I also had my two children in the car with me. Over this past week, I have been having a cough and congestion that have been getting worse and more painfull. I recall seeing all the smoke in my car, my first thought was oh no, my car is on fire and as I became more oriented I saw it was an exahust from the airbag.
I was involved in an auto accident on 9-11-11. Both front airbags were deployed. We were in the car for approximately 5 minutes after the first impact and the airbags were deployed.My son and I began having a cough about 5 days later. We have both been to see a doctor and have had xrays. The DR has said that we both have Emphysema. We had no breathing problems prior to the accident. We are now scheduled to see a lung specialist. Thanks for posting this blog. I had no idea that air bags could cause lung injury. Thanks for the info.
I was in an auto accident on 8/13/2011 and both air bags deployed. I didn’t have respiratory problems prior to my accident. When the paramedics came, my blood pressure was extremely elevated, my chest was bruised, I developed a really bad cough with pain when coughing, I have a continuous headache, I cannot take deep breathes, I wheeze constantly, I lose my voice without warning, I cannot sleep nights and I’m really concerned. Sometimes I get Paranoid when I’m having problems breathing.
My son was in a car accident (he was driving) and his air bag deployed. Besides the black eye and whiplash his tongue was quite swollen, he can’t eat much or talk too good. The swelling has gone down some with steroids per his Dr., the Dr., his own, and emergency room Dr. did not know why that happened to him.
Wow, I just had a wreck today, an older couple pulled out in front of me. My pony is 4 years old. I noticed after the airbag exploded in my face a big cloud came out of it.I actually thought my car was on fire! I have burns on my arm and on my hand. It felt like someone was holding a huge lighter against my skin. I also realize these things save lives, but what the heck, my skin is still burning. The paramedic kept asking me if I was having breathing problems, because I was, but I was hurting too. When my daughter came into the hospital room she asked me what that smell was. She also told me later to wipe my clothes off cause I had residue all over me. Can we not find something else safer to use? Exchanging one deadly item for another (ie: not dying immediately or dying slowly) seems a little sinister to me.
I was in an accident on jan 1 2012 both air bags went off now I’m habin problems breathin and the skin on my face feels like its on fire I’m thankful it was there but wow this hurts
I was involved in a car accident 6 months ago in which the air bag deployed faultily. The cover on the steering column did not come off the way it was intended to do Conversely it did not have the time to convert to nitrogen and I am now feeling the effects of it in my lungs sinuses and throat. I have the constant smell of the odor that was emitted by the airbag malfunction. I am currently being assessed by my doctor for the symptoms. I was knocked unconcious by the impact and had no respite from the gases emitted. I feel burning in my lungs and sore throat still 6 months later.
i was in a accident 3 years ago both front airbags went off i was in rhe car for 10 minutes i had burns to my face i have hd difficulty breathinf and abad cough eversince i thoufht about the dust in the air bags i thought if it could burn my face what did it do to my lungs
I was in a car accident a few days and I knew I had breathed in something during the crash when the air bag deployed. I feel an usual burning in my throat and lungs. Aster rating this blog I will be making an appointment to see my Dr asap because i’m having breathing issues. Why would they use this if it obviously causes problems
I was in a car accident 1/10/12 and my airbag deployed on the driver’s side of my 2011 Ford Escape; totaling my car. Windows were up. I was pinned on my side against the center concrete divider, unable to get out. There was all this powder everywhere when the airbag deployed. I have had asthma since I was a child. When the paramedics came I had already climbed out of the car via the passenger door. My main complaint @ the time was shoulder pain, back, and neck pain. Nobody asked me about my breathing and I was in such pain in other areas I didn’t even think about my shallow breathing. Within a few days I had a severe cough. Two weeks later I saw a dr. and he was shocked about how poor my breathing and voice sounded. He ordered a z-pac. I felt a little bit better, but the cough still didn’t go away. I saw my reg dr a month after the accident, he ordered a chest xray, and they saw nothing! I went to urgent care they put me on doxycycline and tessalon pearls…felt some relief but I STILL have a congested cough! Not to be gross, but since the accident what I’ve been coughing up started out brown, then green, and is now a greenish yellow. This is STILL happening! I have missed about 9 days of work because of the accident and this horrid cough. I cough until I gag and throw up sometimes. I’m miserable and dr’s say its a “virus” that has to run its course. They say since I teach 1st grade I’m catching whatever is going around in the classroom. I don’t know what to do anymore …
Where o where is the public or industry safety warnings and education on airbag hazards, other than the impact warnings for children and to set as far away, when driving, as safe and comfortable? My wife and I are at 29 hours plus, from a 3 car intersection collission in which both front airbags of our 04 Corolla deployed.
We were both postive our corolla was on fire, from the smoke, dust and paticuraly arcid smell. All window were up, with our A/C on, at impact. I was driving and was terrified that we had been hit in the passenger door, while making a left turn, in fron of a Nissan Sentra that ran a red light, at about 45 MPH.
Once we determined neither of us was in serious immediate trauma, we got out of the car. With the doors open, the dust and smoke
quickly dissapated and it was clear the car was not on fire. My wife has now developed a cough and headache, so I am grateful to
have found this educational site now. We were both seen by our primary care doc last night. My wife took a prescription for pain
and another for a muscle relaxant. She has chest, arm and ab pain from airbag impact trauma, as she was in the passenger seat. I only
have modest upper ab and chest pain when I move and am not even on otc pain meds. Understand the pain may worsen until day 3 or so. We shall see. But the shocker here, is the long term respatory health threat, that I had no idea was part and parcel of air bag deployment.
Thanks for the site and we shall follow our respatory health closely before even thinking of signing any liablility release.
OMG I am so shocked to see so many having problems and at the same time I can literally feel your pain. I had a MVA on 01-01-2009. My injuries were horrible because of the so called air bag. I have lost 25% vision in both eyes and now have issues with my heart besides my lungs all from the chemicals contained in the life saving airbags? Do your research and look for yourself for most doctors have no idea about these chemicals and also air bags have a shelf life too. After ten years is when they are the most dangerous.
I have suspected this for some time, and got more curious after my partners accident.(decade long relationship)
This accident happened on a busy and popular main street, yet bystanders did what they do best, and watched as the car “smoked” presumably from fire.When she eventually came-too…she let herself out of the car, of which all windows were shut.(she does not remember this, presumably blacked/passed out for a lengthy amount of time until coming too, and letting herself out of the car)
Then a couple on the sidewalk stopped to “help” her and calm her down, while calling for aid.While still in shock she decided to not take an ambulance and got picked up after all was said and done.She later went to the hospital, with much encouragement from myself, when i saw what bad shape she was in… mainly her short breaths, chest pain, and trouble breathing in general.She had many of the symptoms mentioned in many of the posts here.After her breathing continued to worsen weeks later, she returned to the same hospital via the E.R.They put her on oxygen to raise her levels and later diagnosed her with asthma at age 26.she stayed overnight for 3 days, and nurses told her, if she came to the hospital even a day later per her oxygen levels, she would not have survived~mentioning she was “half-dead” upon arrival per very low oxygen levels.
She had an IV, nebulizer treatment as well.She was also prescribed Prednizone and also diagnosed with a lung infection on this particular visit.This cycle has continued ever since the accident a year ago now, with the same hospital visits and treatment and tons of expensive medical bills.(She is in the process of getting a primary MD presently).
Ever since the first day of her troubled breathing, and related issues.. I kept insisting it had to do with the “smokey” air bag as she recalled it.All the problems started after that, and she was a young healthy women prior to this incident.She mentioned this to the doctor upon my request on one of her visits, to no avail.I went with her on her next visit of intake, and made a strong point about the air bag and persisting lung issues since then, to the doctor…he basically ignored me.
I’m not sure if out of ignorance, or if he was aware and wanted to just avoid the issue all together.He basically nodded like he was jotting that down, but made no mention of anything pertaining to air bags and continued with his treatment of her “sudden asthma”, perhaps as if her accident was a coincidence unrelated to her “asthma”.Basically, no comment from any giving treatment to her on the air bag issue.
I have looked up this topic a few times since, but this is the first time i found this particular informative site.I learned a bit more about the toxic chemicals involved; glad I finally found something on this.I felt as though people were trying to make me believe I was ridiculous for having such a theory, but i still feel strongly about it to this day hence my continued research.This was my initial gut belief from the start of all this, and i have no doubts about it, especially now after reading this site.
I don’t know if anything can be done to truly help her get better, but i will continue to learn all i can about this, in hopes it will somehow provide some aid to her.
This incident has severely changed her quality of life, and our quality of life as an active couple.
P.S. Thanks to all that posted; Be Well
My son was in an accident on Friday with air bag deployment. After about 4 hours he began coughing and having breathing difficulties and fever and not feeling well. It is very scary