I got this in email, and Snopes says it checks out. Please let parents, teachers and your computer techs know.
http://www.snopes.com/toxins/dustoff.asp
Dusted Off
Claim: Adolescents huffing from cans of Dust-Off brand compressed air have died.
Status: True.
Re: Teens huffing cans of Dust-Off compressed air have died - OT
Perhaps it depends upon which brand of canned air you use. Here is the MSDS for DuPont’s “Dust Off” brand:
http://msds.ehs.cornell.edu/msds/msdsdod/a179/m89213.htm
Ingredient Name: DIFLUOROETHANE
Health Hazards Acute & Chronic: INHALATION OF HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF VAPOR IS HARMFUL & MAY CAUSE HEART IRREGULATITIES, UNCONSCIOUSNESS, DEATH. INTENTIONAL MISUSE OR DILIBERATE INHALATION MAY CAUSE DEATH W/O WARNING. VAPOR REDUCES OXYGEN AVAILABLE FOR BREATHING & IS HEAVIER THAN AIR. LIQUID CONTACT CAN CAUSE FROSTBITE.
I believe that. I doubt that it is “toxic” per se. But it IS very cold. Ever get any on your hand in even miniscule amts? It isn’t just air, it’s air under pressure and considerable amts of nitrogen.
—des