Have you noticed the red cloud - the blood color - that was emitted during the huge explosion that occurred in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, on Tuesday? What is its secret? What are its risks?

The huge explosion occurred in a warehouse in the port of Beirut, and the latest wave of destruction shook parts of Beirut, killing at least 135 people, and shook the impact of the explosion buildings on the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean, about 160 km.

Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hassan said that more than 5 thousand people were injured in the explosion, which occurred in the port of Beirut on Tuesday, and that about 250 thousand people were left without homes suitable for housing, after the explosive wave destroyed the facades of buildings, and toppled furniture in the streets, and windows were destroyed Miles from the blast site. Hassan added that dozens of people are still missing.

It is expected to increase the death toll in the explosion, which officials said was caused by a huge stockpile of high explosive materials that had been stored for years in unsafe conditions and conditions at the port.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun said that 2750 tons of ammonium nitrate, which is used in the manufacture of fertilizers and bombs, had been stored in the port since 6 years, without safety measures since the time of its confiscation.

"By some measure, this explosion is less than a nuclear bomb, and too big to be described as a conventional bomb; it is massive," said Roland Alford, general manager of Alford Technologies, a British disposal company for explosive ordnance.

How did the explosion happen?

Ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) does not burn alone, instead it acts as an oxygen source and can accelerate the combustion of other materials.

For combustion to occur, oxygen must be present, and ammonium nitrate granules provide a more concentrated source of oxygen than surrounding air, which is why they are used in explosives, according to Scientific American.

Ammonium nitrate can also degrade if exposed to high temperatures (such as a fire), and this process produces gases - including nitrogen oxides and water vapor - and this rapid release of gases is what causes the explosion.

Data indicate that a fire initially broke out in a part of the port area before the explosion occurred, and it may have been what subsequently led to the huge explosion.

The explosion of ammonium nitrate produced massive amounts of nitrogen oxides, including nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), which is a foul smelling red gas, and pictures from Beirut reveal a red color in the column of gases resulting from the explosion.

What are nitrogen oxides?

Nitrogen oxides are a group of 7 gases and compounds consisting of nitrogen and oxygen, sometimes known collectively as NOx gases, and the most common and most dangerous nitrogen oxides are nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide, according to the National Library of Medicine in the United States ( National Library of Medicine).

Nitrogen oxide gases are produced from car exhaust, coal, oil and natural gas burning, as well as from cigarettes, gas stoves, kerosene heaters and wood burning.

Nitrogen dioxide is used in the production of missile and explosive fuel.

Nitrogen oxides can lead to environmental health risks when they interact with sunlight and other chemicals to create smog, just as nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide interact with substances in the atmosphere to form acid rain.

Nitrogen oxides are usually introduced into the body through inhalation and skin contact.

In the short term, exposure to nitrogen oxides can lead to:

  • Irritation of the respiratory system, eyes and skin.
  • Worsening respiratory diseases, especially asthma.
  • Coughing and choking.
  • Nausea.
  • Headache.
  • Abdominal pain.
  • difficulty breathing.
  • Exposure of the skin and eyes to nitrogen oxide gases or liquid nitrogen dioxide can cause irritation and burns.

In the long run, exposure to nitrogen oxides can lead to:

  • asthma.
  • Respiratory infections.

As for exposure to very high levels of nitrogen oxides may lead to:

  • Genetic mutations.
  • Fetal problems.
  • Female fertility decreased.
  • cramps.
  • Throat swelling.
  • An enlarged heart.
  • the death.

If you think you have been exposed to nitrogen oxides, see a doctor.

Population groups that may be particularly sensitive to NOx include asthma patients, and those who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or heart disease.

According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; There is no antidote to nitrogen oxides, and the basic treatment includes respiratory and cardiovascular support.

These fumes in Beirut pose a health hazard for the residents, until they are removed from the air, which may take several days, depending on the weather conditions.