User:Ecstatist/sandbox

"Toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, methane or carbon dioxide in the mine would kill the bird before affecting the miners." Neither methane nor carbon dioxide are "toxic." They do not damage any organic processes (except perhaps trivially.) One can thrive for extended periods in a mixture where methane has replaced all the nitrogen in the air. Methane is highly insoluble and would not enter the body beyond the lungs. Providing there is 15% or more of oxygen (21% is normal) one would not notice any difference. Neither would a canary. The majority of the gas in flatulence (fart gas) is methane and it does not intoxicate the holder. Similarly with carbon dioxide one would not die although one would be highly distressed because there would be a strong although false feeling that one is suffocating. Carbon monoxide is "toxic" and even a small amount (1% or less) breathed for minutes or hours will cause morbidity because it remains in the body bound to the haemoglobin thus preventing the haemoglobin from transporting oxygen where it is required. In very severe carbon monoxide intoxication, the only cure is an immediate and fast blood transfusion (often required within 3 minutes or less.)

Wilson's

Mixed statement declaring a liver transplant may be useful in the case of liver failure is a statement of the obvious