Helium

Biological properties


Inhalation


Helium is not toxic, but can cause asphyxiation. Because of this, suicide by helium inhalation has become increasingly common in the last few decades in Europe and the US, as it produces a quick and painless death. Helium inhalation does not trigger the breathing reflex, the choking feeling, so the victims do not feel the urge to breathe [5].

The density of helium being only a third of air, makes possible to reduce resperatory distress. As a sideeffect this can also be used to improve respiratory drug delivery [8].

Helium has been shown not to have antiapoptotic (contrary to argon and xenon) [6].

The growth of Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Tetrahymena thermophila is not inhibited by He(g) under hydrostatic pressure, but can in fact reverse the growth inhibitory action of hydrostatic pressures [7].