324 Nitrite
mia, harm the immune system, create nose and lung abnormalities, and
disturb the spleen. Similar results are seen with rats. Blood and spleen ab-
normalities developed in a mice experiment using cyclohexyl nitrite. In a hu-
man patient, sniffing isobutyl nitrite caused bronchitis severe enough to affect
the trachea. Amyl nitrite (which has a long medical history as a heart medi-
cine) and isobutyl nitrite may each cause methemoglobinemia, a sometimes
fatal blood disease interfering with the body’s use of oxygen; this affliction is
particularly likely if a person drinks isobutyl nitrite instead of inhaling the
vapor. Isobutyl nitrite interference with the body’s ability to use oxygen may
be perilous for persons with inadequate oxygen supply to the heart.
In the early days of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) research,
scientists noticed that many victims were nitrite sniffers. Because of this as-
sociation, at one time nitrite sniffing was suspected to be the cause of AIDS,
an excellent example of why association of a chemical with a disease cannot
be assumed to demonstrate a cause-effect relationship. The substance is still,
however, suspected of worsening the progression of AIDS once the disease
strikes. In addition, damage to the immune system caused by nitrite inhalation
is suspected of making a user more susceptible to AIDS and to a type of cancer
called Kaposi’s sarcoma.
Abuse factors.Tolerance to amyl nitrite can develop.
Drug interactions.Although amyl nitrite is used as an antidote for cyanide
poisoning, isobutyl nitrite can interact with coffee in a way that produces
enough cyanide to poison someone who drinks the combination beverage.
Using amyl nitrite withalcoholcan cause heart failure. Nitrites are flammable,
making them hazardous around flames or lit cigarettes. Persons with glau-
coma are supposed to avoid amyl nitrite. People report burns caused by iso-
butyl nitrite splashing on skin.
Cancer.Laboratory tests and animal experiments (the latter involving long-
term exposure) indicate that isobutyl nitrite liquid and vapor each cause
cancer.
Pregnancy.In the body nitrite breaks down into chemicals that may pro-
mote birth defects. The lower blood pressure produced by amyl nitrite is be-
lieved harmful to a fetus. Whether amyl nitrite passes into the milk of nursing
mothers is unknown.
Additional scientific information may be found in:Bradberry, S.M., et al. “Fatal Methemoglobinemia Due to Inhalation of Isobutyl Ni-
trite.”Journal of Toxicology: Clinical Toxicology32 (1994): 179–84.
Covalla, J.R., C.V. Strimlan, and J.G. Lech. “Severe Tracheobronchitis from Inhalation
of an Isobutyl Nitrite Preparation.”Drug Intelligence and Clinical Pharmacy 15
(1981): 51–52.
Haverkos, H.W., and J. Dougherty. “Health Hazards of Nitrite Inhalants.”American
Journal of Medicine84 (1988): 479–82.
Haverkos, H.W., et al. “Nitrite Inhalants: History, Epidemiology, and Possible Links
to AIDS.”Environmental Health Perspectives102 (1994): 858–61.
Israelstam, S., S. Lambert, and G. Oki. “Use of Isobutyl Nitrite as a Recreational Drug.”
British Journal of Addiction to Alcohol and Other Drugs73 (1978): 319–20.