4 ms·
Another interesting thing that links with the latter part of the article - this was exactly why canaries were used in coal mines. The lungs of birds rapidly ab
by tomlockwood 5y ago
Another interesting thing that links with the latter part of the article - this was exactly why canaries were used in coal mines. The lungs of birds rapidly absorb anything in the air, meaning they'd die before the coal miners.
- BrandoElFollito 5y agoThe main reason was to protect against carbon monoxide. Humans do not feel it and there is no body alert, like we have for carbon dioxide for instance.
- thaumasiotes 5y ago> like we have for carbon dioxide for instance. Carbon dioxide is the only substance for which we have such an alert. (Although there is another kind of alert for substances which smell bad. Most toxic substances don't smell bad.)
- dTal 5y agoWhich is why it's horrifying that CO2 asphyxiation is the "euthanasia" method of choice for everything from lab animals to livestock. We've managed to select the one gas that inflicts excruciating pain.
- thaumasiotes 5y agoAt a guess, I'd say we selected that gas so that, in the event of a safety failure, human operators would notice they couldn't breathe, and flee. It's a pretty good reason. Assuming the humans are always in a ventilated area, though, nitrogen seems better along several dimensions.