Research from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that around 1% of adolescents aged between 12⁠–17 years misused air dusters in 2015. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) notes that many states in the United States have tried to reduce this by limiting sales to minors.

If individuals feel like they are addicted to air dusters, they can speak to a healthcare professional. A doctor can help a person receive treatment for their addiction.

Air dusters can contain various ingredients, including some dangerous substances. They may contain dangerous ingredients that can cause side effects if a person inhales them, such as:

Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a cough suppressant that people may misuse to try to achieve feelings of euphoria. Misuse can lead to dangerous side effects.

Curryscompressed air

Misusing air dusters can be dangerous, no matter how often a person does it. If someone experiences any serious side effects after inhaling air duster gas, they should seek immediate medical attention.

Australian Consolidated Industries, in conjuction with Professor Hartung from the University of Melbourne, tested over 100 clays from all over Australia until they found the right clays to use in their pot construction. In June 1941, Hartung reported: Much work has been done on the testing and selection of suitable pot clays for melting optical glass. After the accumulation of sufficient evidence from our experiments in Melbourne, I went to Sydney towards the end of February last, and discussed the whole matter fully with the staff of Messrs. A.C.I. who are concerned with the development of the project. As a result, a standard blend of four pot clays was selected for use in the making of full scale pots for the production of optical glass.(2) Following the production of the 'melt', the optical glass is then poured into moulds which form prisms, lens blanks and slabs. Prism cubes of up to 5 inches (12.7 cm) and lenses of up to 8 inches (20.3 cm) were made by an Australian Consolidated Industries subsidiary: Australian Window Glass Pty Ltd, in Sydney. After moulding, the glass blanks are annealed. Annealing is the process of controlled thermal treatment to lower the level of strain inside the glass caused by uneven cooling. It involves raising the glass to a high enough temperature to relieve the strain, then the glass is gradually cooled again. Optical glass needs the most careful annealing because of the significant effect of residual strain on the final optical properties of the glass. (1) D.P. Mellor (1958), 'Optical Munitions', Australia in the War of 1939-1945: The Role of Science and Industry, ch. 12, series 4: civil, vol. 5, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, p. 255. (2) J.S. Rogers, The History of the Optical Munitions Panel: July 1940 - December 1946, Australian Archives, Brighton, Melbourne, MP 730/11, Box 3, p. 49. Published by the Australian Science Archives Project on ASAPWeb, 30 April 1997 Comments or corrections to: Bright Sparcs (bsparcs@asap.unimelb.edu.au) Prepared by: Denise Sutherland and Elissa Tenkate Updated by: Elissa Tenkate Date modified: 19 February 1998 | Top | Bright Sparcs | ASAPWeb |

During the Second World War, the Optical Munitions Panel recommended that six types of optical glass should be made in Australia: Hard Crown; Dense Flint; Borosilicate Crown; Extra Dense Flint; Medium Barium Crown; and Telescope Flint. The production of optical glass requires special ingredients, in particular a high grade, iron-free source of silica (sand). Aeolian sand is considered one of the best types of sand for making optical glass and, fortunately, Australia had a domestic source of this essential ingredient at Botany, in Sydney. Other ingredients required for optical glass came from various Australian states: calcite (for lime or calcium oxide) - George's Plains (near Bathurst, New South Wales); zinc oxide - Tasmania; lead oxide - Port Pirie, South Australia; and soda ash - Imperial Chemical Industries' plant at Osborne, South Australia. The remaining ingredients were supplied by the UK (potassium nitrate and hydrated alumina) and the USA (borax and boric acid) and had been stockpiled by Australian Consolidated Industries before war broke out. (1) However, while Australia had all the ingredients to make optical glass, we did not have the procedures in place to do so. Optical glass is hard to form and expensive to produce; extraordinarily high temperatures are required to melt the quartz sands and these temperature make the mixture highly reactive. This can lead to contamination of the mixture through chemical reactions with containers that hold the molten glass. Optical glass is also a very viscous product, and it is difficult to get tiny bubbles out of the mixture. To make optical glass, fine sand and various mixtures of oxides, such as potash (potassium oxide), soda (sodium oxide), lime (calcium oxide) and magnesium oxide are melted together in a pot. The pot, or refractory, is lined with, or made of, special clays. As mentioned above, the glass produced in the refractory can be affected by impurities in the clay which leak out of the clay and into the 'melt' of optical glass. Australian Consolidated Industries, in conjuction with Professor Hartung from the University of Melbourne, tested over 100 clays from all over Australia until they found the right clays to use in their pot construction. In June 1941, Hartung reported: Much work has been done on the testing and selection of suitable pot clays for melting optical glass. After the accumulation of sufficient evidence from our experiments in Melbourne, I went to Sydney towards the end of February last, and discussed the whole matter fully with the staff of Messrs. A.C.I. who are concerned with the development of the project. As a result, a standard blend of four pot clays was selected for use in the making of full scale pots for the production of optical glass.(2) Following the production of the 'melt', the optical glass is then poured into moulds which form prisms, lens blanks and slabs. Prism cubes of up to 5 inches (12.7 cm) and lenses of up to 8 inches (20.3 cm) were made by an Australian Consolidated Industries subsidiary: Australian Window Glass Pty Ltd, in Sydney. After moulding, the glass blanks are annealed. Annealing is the process of controlled thermal treatment to lower the level of strain inside the glass caused by uneven cooling. It involves raising the glass to a high enough temperature to relieve the strain, then the glass is gradually cooled again. Optical glass needs the most careful annealing because of the significant effect of residual strain on the final optical properties of the glass. (1) D.P. Mellor (1958), 'Optical Munitions', Australia in the War of 1939-1945: The Role of Science and Industry, ch. 12, series 4: civil, vol. 5, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, p. 255. (2) J.S. Rogers, The History of the Optical Munitions Panel: July 1940 - December 1946, Australian Archives, Brighton, Melbourne, MP 730/11, Box 3, p. 49. Published by the Australian Science Archives Project on ASAPWeb, 30 April 1997 Comments or corrections to: Bright Sparcs (bsparcs@asap.unimelb.edu.au) Prepared by: Denise Sutherland and Elissa Tenkate Updated by: Elissa Tenkate Date modified: 19 February 1998 | Top | Bright Sparcs | ASAPWeb |

SAMHSA recommends that an individual’s loved ones use the following methods to let them know they are there to help them:

Screwfixcompressed air

Although unlikely, air dusters can be addictive. A person with an addiction to air dusters may show certain signs, such as mood changes or problems at work.

Inhaling the gas from air dusters can be extremely dangerous. Air dusters contain various substances that can cause immediate harm when a person inhales them. Long-term use of air dusters can also cause serious damage to many parts of the body.

However, inhaling air duster fumes can be dangerous. It can lead to serious side effects, such as liver problems, breathing problems, or possibly death.

Compressed air canTesco

Air duster highs generally only last a few minutes. However, a person may inhale the gas repeatedly to maintain their high. They may repeat this process for several hours.

The production of optical glass requires special ingredients, in particular a high grade, iron-free source of silica (sand). Aeolian sand is considered one of the best types of sand for making optical glass and, fortunately, Australia had a domestic source of this essential ingredient at Botany, in Sydney. Other ingredients required for optical glass came from various Australian states: calcite (for lime or calcium oxide) - George's Plains (near Bathurst, New South Wales); zinc oxide - Tasmania; lead oxide - Port Pirie, South Australia; and soda ash - Imperial Chemical Industries' plant at Osborne, South Australia. The remaining ingredients were supplied by the UK (potassium nitrate and hydrated alumina) and the USA (borax and boric acid) and had been stockpiled by Australian Consolidated Industries before war broke out. (1) However, while Australia had all the ingredients to make optical glass, we did not have the procedures in place to do so. Optical glass is hard to form and expensive to produce; extraordinarily high temperatures are required to melt the quartz sands and these temperature make the mixture highly reactive. This can lead to contamination of the mixture through chemical reactions with containers that hold the molten glass. Optical glass is also a very viscous product, and it is difficult to get tiny bubbles out of the mixture. To make optical glass, fine sand and various mixtures of oxides, such as potash (potassium oxide), soda (sodium oxide), lime (calcium oxide) and magnesium oxide are melted together in a pot. The pot, or refractory, is lined with, or made of, special clays. As mentioned above, the glass produced in the refractory can be affected by impurities in the clay which leak out of the clay and into the 'melt' of optical glass. Australian Consolidated Industries, in conjuction with Professor Hartung from the University of Melbourne, tested over 100 clays from all over Australia until they found the right clays to use in their pot construction. In June 1941, Hartung reported: Much work has been done on the testing and selection of suitable pot clays for melting optical glass. After the accumulation of sufficient evidence from our experiments in Melbourne, I went to Sydney towards the end of February last, and discussed the whole matter fully with the staff of Messrs. A.C.I. who are concerned with the development of the project. As a result, a standard blend of four pot clays was selected for use in the making of full scale pots for the production of optical glass.(2) Following the production of the 'melt', the optical glass is then poured into moulds which form prisms, lens blanks and slabs. Prism cubes of up to 5 inches (12.7 cm) and lenses of up to 8 inches (20.3 cm) were made by an Australian Consolidated Industries subsidiary: Australian Window Glass Pty Ltd, in Sydney. After moulding, the glass blanks are annealed. Annealing is the process of controlled thermal treatment to lower the level of strain inside the glass caused by uneven cooling. It involves raising the glass to a high enough temperature to relieve the strain, then the glass is gradually cooled again. Optical glass needs the most careful annealing because of the significant effect of residual strain on the final optical properties of the glass. (1) D.P. Mellor (1958), 'Optical Munitions', Australia in the War of 1939-1945: The Role of Science and Industry, ch. 12, series 4: civil, vol. 5, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, p. 255. (2) J.S. Rogers, The History of the Optical Munitions Panel: July 1940 - December 1946, Australian Archives, Brighton, Melbourne, MP 730/11, Box 3, p. 49. Published by the Australian Science Archives Project on ASAPWeb, 30 April 1997 Comments or corrections to: Bright Sparcs (bsparcs@asap.unimelb.edu.au) Prepared by: Denise Sutherland and Elissa Tenkate Updated by: Elissa Tenkate Date modified: 19 February 1998 | Top | Bright Sparcs | ASAPWeb |

When a person develops an addiction to something, they cannot stop using it, despite the effect it has on their life. Signs that an individual may have a substance use disorder (SUD) include:

A person can use various methods to get “high” using air dusters. These methods all involve inhaling the gas that the air duster produces.

Bath salt drugs are synthetic drugs that can cause various adverse affects. They are illegal in the United States. Learn more here.

The National Institution on Drug Abuse notes that, although unlikely, it is possible to develop an addiction to inhalants. Addiction to air dusters may occur if a person misuses them frequently.

A gateway drug is a substance that increases a person's risk of trying other drugs. Find out if alcohol can be considered a gateway drug.

Compressed Air CanAmazon

However, while Australia had all the ingredients to make optical glass, we did not have the procedures in place to do so. Optical glass is hard to form and expensive to produce; extraordinarily high temperatures are required to melt the quartz sands and these temperature make the mixture highly reactive. This can lead to contamination of the mixture through chemical reactions with containers that hold the molten glass. Optical glass is also a very viscous product, and it is difficult to get tiny bubbles out of the mixture. To make optical glass, fine sand and various mixtures of oxides, such as potash (potassium oxide), soda (sodium oxide), lime (calcium oxide) and magnesium oxide are melted together in a pot. The pot, or refractory, is lined with, or made of, special clays. As mentioned above, the glass produced in the refractory can be affected by impurities in the clay which leak out of the clay and into the 'melt' of optical glass. Australian Consolidated Industries, in conjuction with Professor Hartung from the University of Melbourne, tested over 100 clays from all over Australia until they found the right clays to use in their pot construction. In June 1941, Hartung reported: Much work has been done on the testing and selection of suitable pot clays for melting optical glass. After the accumulation of sufficient evidence from our experiments in Melbourne, I went to Sydney towards the end of February last, and discussed the whole matter fully with the staff of Messrs. A.C.I. who are concerned with the development of the project. As a result, a standard blend of four pot clays was selected for use in the making of full scale pots for the production of optical glass.(2) Following the production of the 'melt', the optical glass is then poured into moulds which form prisms, lens blanks and slabs. Prism cubes of up to 5 inches (12.7 cm) and lenses of up to 8 inches (20.3 cm) were made by an Australian Consolidated Industries subsidiary: Australian Window Glass Pty Ltd, in Sydney. After moulding, the glass blanks are annealed. Annealing is the process of controlled thermal treatment to lower the level of strain inside the glass caused by uneven cooling. It involves raising the glass to a high enough temperature to relieve the strain, then the glass is gradually cooled again. Optical glass needs the most careful annealing because of the significant effect of residual strain on the final optical properties of the glass. (1) D.P. Mellor (1958), 'Optical Munitions', Australia in the War of 1939-1945: The Role of Science and Industry, ch. 12, series 4: civil, vol. 5, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, p. 255. (2) J.S. Rogers, The History of the Optical Munitions Panel: July 1940 - December 1946, Australian Archives, Brighton, Melbourne, MP 730/11, Box 3, p. 49. Published by the Australian Science Archives Project on ASAPWeb, 30 April 1997 Comments or corrections to: Bright Sparcs (bsparcs@asap.unimelb.edu.au) Prepared by: Denise Sutherland and Elissa Tenkate Updated by: Elissa Tenkate Date modified: 19 February 1998 | Top | Bright Sparcs | ASAPWeb |

Air dusters are not a controlled substance. When individuals misuse them, air dusters are known as a type of inhalant. An inhalant is a substance that people typically only misuse through inhalation.

In June 1941, Hartung reported: Much work has been done on the testing and selection of suitable pot clays for melting optical glass. After the accumulation of sufficient evidence from our experiments in Melbourne, I went to Sydney towards the end of February last, and discussed the whole matter fully with the staff of Messrs. A.C.I. who are concerned with the development of the project. As a result, a standard blend of four pot clays was selected for use in the making of full scale pots for the production of optical glass.(2) Following the production of the 'melt', the optical glass is then poured into moulds which form prisms, lens blanks and slabs. Prism cubes of up to 5 inches (12.7 cm) and lenses of up to 8 inches (20.3 cm) were made by an Australian Consolidated Industries subsidiary: Australian Window Glass Pty Ltd, in Sydney. After moulding, the glass blanks are annealed. Annealing is the process of controlled thermal treatment to lower the level of strain inside the glass caused by uneven cooling. It involves raising the glass to a high enough temperature to relieve the strain, then the glass is gradually cooled again. Optical glass needs the most careful annealing because of the significant effect of residual strain on the final optical properties of the glass. (1) D.P. Mellor (1958), 'Optical Munitions', Australia in the War of 1939-1945: The Role of Science and Industry, ch. 12, series 4: civil, vol. 5, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, p. 255. (2) J.S. Rogers, The History of the Optical Munitions Panel: July 1940 - December 1946, Australian Archives, Brighton, Melbourne, MP 730/11, Box 3, p. 49. Published by the Australian Science Archives Project on ASAPWeb, 30 April 1997 Comments or corrections to: Bright Sparcs (bsparcs@asap.unimelb.edu.au) Prepared by: Denise Sutherland and Elissa Tenkate Updated by: Elissa Tenkate Date modified: 19 February 1998 | Top | Bright Sparcs | ASAPWeb |

Air dusters are cans of compressed air. People use them to remove dust and dirt from hard-to-reach areas, such as between keyboard sets. A person can misuse air dusters by inhaling the gas when someone sprays the can.

AirDuster

This article explores what opioids and opiates are, the difference between them, and how people can seek help for addiction and overdose

As inhaling air duster fumes can be very dangerous, the substances in air dusters are not for inhalation. Air duster cans generally also have warnings on their labels to remind people to use them in well-ventilated areas.

If someone has an addiction to air dusters, they may experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop using them. Withdrawal symptoms can include:

The production of optical glass requires special ingredients, in particular a high grade, iron-free source of silica (sand). Aeolian sand is considered one of the best types of sand for making optical glass and, fortunately, Australia had a domestic source of this essential ingredient at Botany, in Sydney. Other ingredients required for optical glass came from various Australian states: calcite (for lime or calcium oxide) - George's Plains (near Bathurst, New South Wales); zinc oxide - Tasmania; lead oxide - Port Pirie, South Australia; and soda ash - Imperial Chemical Industries' plant at Osborne, South Australia. The remaining ingredients were supplied by the UK (potassium nitrate and hydrated alumina) and the USA (borax and boric acid) and had been stockpiled by Australian Consolidated Industries before war broke out. (1) However, while Australia had all the ingredients to make optical glass, we did not have the procedures in place to do so. Optical glass is hard to form and expensive to produce; extraordinarily high temperatures are required to melt the quartz sands and these temperature make the mixture highly reactive. This can lead to contamination of the mixture through chemical reactions with containers that hold the molten glass. Optical glass is also a very viscous product, and it is difficult to get tiny bubbles out of the mixture. To make optical glass, fine sand and various mixtures of oxides, such as potash (potassium oxide), soda (sodium oxide), lime (calcium oxide) and magnesium oxide are melted together in a pot. The pot, or refractory, is lined with, or made of, special clays. As mentioned above, the glass produced in the refractory can be affected by impurities in the clay which leak out of the clay and into the 'melt' of optical glass. Australian Consolidated Industries, in conjuction with Professor Hartung from the University of Melbourne, tested over 100 clays from all over Australia until they found the right clays to use in their pot construction. In June 1941, Hartung reported: Much work has been done on the testing and selection of suitable pot clays for melting optical glass. After the accumulation of sufficient evidence from our experiments in Melbourne, I went to Sydney towards the end of February last, and discussed the whole matter fully with the staff of Messrs. A.C.I. who are concerned with the development of the project. As a result, a standard blend of four pot clays was selected for use in the making of full scale pots for the production of optical glass.(2) Following the production of the 'melt', the optical glass is then poured into moulds which form prisms, lens blanks and slabs. Prism cubes of up to 5 inches (12.7 cm) and lenses of up to 8 inches (20.3 cm) were made by an Australian Consolidated Industries subsidiary: Australian Window Glass Pty Ltd, in Sydney. After moulding, the glass blanks are annealed. Annealing is the process of controlled thermal treatment to lower the level of strain inside the glass caused by uneven cooling. It involves raising the glass to a high enough temperature to relieve the strain, then the glass is gradually cooled again. Optical glass needs the most careful annealing because of the significant effect of residual strain on the final optical properties of the glass. (1) D.P. Mellor (1958), 'Optical Munitions', Australia in the War of 1939-1945: The Role of Science and Industry, ch. 12, series 4: civil, vol. 5, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, p. 255. (2) J.S. Rogers, The History of the Optical Munitions Panel: July 1940 - December 1946, Australian Archives, Brighton, Melbourne, MP 730/11, Box 3, p. 49. Published by the Australian Science Archives Project on ASAPWeb, 30 April 1997 Comments or corrections to: Bright Sparcs (bsparcs@asap.unimelb.edu.au) Prepared by: Denise Sutherland and Elissa Tenkate Updated by: Elissa Tenkate Date modified: 19 February 1998 | Top | Bright Sparcs | ASAPWeb |

Compressed AirCleaner

Compressed AirDuster

To make optical glass, fine sand and various mixtures of oxides, such as potash (potassium oxide), soda (sodium oxide), lime (calcium oxide) and magnesium oxide are melted together in a pot. The pot, or refractory, is lined with, or made of, special clays. As mentioned above, the glass produced in the refractory can be affected by impurities in the clay which leak out of the clay and into the 'melt' of optical glass. Australian Consolidated Industries, in conjuction with Professor Hartung from the University of Melbourne, tested over 100 clays from all over Australia until they found the right clays to use in their pot construction. In June 1941, Hartung reported: Much work has been done on the testing and selection of suitable pot clays for melting optical glass. After the accumulation of sufficient evidence from our experiments in Melbourne, I went to Sydney towards the end of February last, and discussed the whole matter fully with the staff of Messrs. A.C.I. who are concerned with the development of the project. As a result, a standard blend of four pot clays was selected for use in the making of full scale pots for the production of optical glass.(2) Following the production of the 'melt', the optical glass is then poured into moulds which form prisms, lens blanks and slabs. Prism cubes of up to 5 inches (12.7 cm) and lenses of up to 8 inches (20.3 cm) were made by an Australian Consolidated Industries subsidiary: Australian Window Glass Pty Ltd, in Sydney. After moulding, the glass blanks are annealed. Annealing is the process of controlled thermal treatment to lower the level of strain inside the glass caused by uneven cooling. It involves raising the glass to a high enough temperature to relieve the strain, then the glass is gradually cooled again. Optical glass needs the most careful annealing because of the significant effect of residual strain on the final optical properties of the glass. (1) D.P. Mellor (1958), 'Optical Munitions', Australia in the War of 1939-1945: The Role of Science and Industry, ch. 12, series 4: civil, vol. 5, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, p. 255. (2) J.S. Rogers, The History of the Optical Munitions Panel: July 1940 - December 1946, Australian Archives, Brighton, Melbourne, MP 730/11, Box 3, p. 49. Published by the Australian Science Archives Project on ASAPWeb, 30 April 1997 Comments or corrections to: Bright Sparcs (bsparcs@asap.unimelb.edu.au) Prepared by: Denise Sutherland and Elissa Tenkate Updated by: Elissa Tenkate Date modified: 19 February 1998 | Top | Bright Sparcs | ASAPWeb |

If a person experiences any serious side effects when misusing air dusters, they should seek immediate medical attention.

Optical glass is used for optical instruments, such as binoculars, spectacles, lenses, prisms, telescopes, and microscopes. It must be absolutely flawless, completely transparent and able to be ground into shape. Of all glass types, it has the widest range of compositions, each having slightly different ingredients and optical properties. During the Second World War, the Optical Munitions Panel recommended that six types of optical glass should be made in Australia: Hard Crown; Dense Flint; Borosilicate Crown; Extra Dense Flint; Medium Barium Crown; and Telescope Flint. The production of optical glass requires special ingredients, in particular a high grade, iron-free source of silica (sand). Aeolian sand is considered one of the best types of sand for making optical glass and, fortunately, Australia had a domestic source of this essential ingredient at Botany, in Sydney. Other ingredients required for optical glass came from various Australian states: calcite (for lime or calcium oxide) - George's Plains (near Bathurst, New South Wales); zinc oxide - Tasmania; lead oxide - Port Pirie, South Australia; and soda ash - Imperial Chemical Industries' plant at Osborne, South Australia. The remaining ingredients were supplied by the UK (potassium nitrate and hydrated alumina) and the USA (borax and boric acid) and had been stockpiled by Australian Consolidated Industries before war broke out. (1) However, while Australia had all the ingredients to make optical glass, we did not have the procedures in place to do so. Optical glass is hard to form and expensive to produce; extraordinarily high temperatures are required to melt the quartz sands and these temperature make the mixture highly reactive. This can lead to contamination of the mixture through chemical reactions with containers that hold the molten glass. Optical glass is also a very viscous product, and it is difficult to get tiny bubbles out of the mixture. To make optical glass, fine sand and various mixtures of oxides, such as potash (potassium oxide), soda (sodium oxide), lime (calcium oxide) and magnesium oxide are melted together in a pot. The pot, or refractory, is lined with, or made of, special clays. As mentioned above, the glass produced in the refractory can be affected by impurities in the clay which leak out of the clay and into the 'melt' of optical glass. Australian Consolidated Industries, in conjuction with Professor Hartung from the University of Melbourne, tested over 100 clays from all over Australia until they found the right clays to use in their pot construction. In June 1941, Hartung reported: Much work has been done on the testing and selection of suitable pot clays for melting optical glass. After the accumulation of sufficient evidence from our experiments in Melbourne, I went to Sydney towards the end of February last, and discussed the whole matter fully with the staff of Messrs. A.C.I. who are concerned with the development of the project. As a result, a standard blend of four pot clays was selected for use in the making of full scale pots for the production of optical glass.(2) Following the production of the 'melt', the optical glass is then poured into moulds which form prisms, lens blanks and slabs. Prism cubes of up to 5 inches (12.7 cm) and lenses of up to 8 inches (20.3 cm) were made by an Australian Consolidated Industries subsidiary: Australian Window Glass Pty Ltd, in Sydney. After moulding, the glass blanks are annealed. Annealing is the process of controlled thermal treatment to lower the level of strain inside the glass caused by uneven cooling. It involves raising the glass to a high enough temperature to relieve the strain, then the glass is gradually cooled again. Optical glass needs the most careful annealing because of the significant effect of residual strain on the final optical properties of the glass. (1) D.P. Mellor (1958), 'Optical Munitions', Australia in the War of 1939-1945: The Role of Science and Industry, ch. 12, series 4: civil, vol. 5, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, p. 255. (2) J.S. Rogers, The History of the Optical Munitions Panel: July 1940 - December 1946, Australian Archives, Brighton, Melbourne, MP 730/11, Box 3, p. 49. Published by the Australian Science Archives Project on ASAPWeb, 30 April 1997 Comments or corrections to: Bright Sparcs (bsparcs@asap.unimelb.edu.au) Prepared by: Denise Sutherland and Elissa Tenkate Updated by: Elissa Tenkate Date modified: 19 February 1998 | Top | Bright Sparcs | ASAPWeb |

After moulding, the glass blanks are annealed. Annealing is the process of controlled thermal treatment to lower the level of strain inside the glass caused by uneven cooling. It involves raising the glass to a high enough temperature to relieve the strain, then the glass is gradually cooled again. Optical glass needs the most careful annealing because of the significant effect of residual strain on the final optical properties of the glass. (1) D.P. Mellor (1958), 'Optical Munitions', Australia in the War of 1939-1945: The Role of Science and Industry, ch. 12, series 4: civil, vol. 5, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, p. 255. (2) J.S. Rogers, The History of the Optical Munitions Panel: July 1940 - December 1946, Australian Archives, Brighton, Melbourne, MP 730/11, Box 3, p. 49. Published by the Australian Science Archives Project on ASAPWeb, 30 April 1997 Comments or corrections to: Bright Sparcs (bsparcs@asap.unimelb.edu.au) Prepared by: Denise Sutherland and Elissa Tenkate Updated by: Elissa Tenkate Date modified: 19 February 1998 | Top | Bright Sparcs | ASAPWeb |

Some individuals inhale compressed air from small cans to get a feeling of euphoria. This can lead to serious side effects. In some cases, it can be fatal.

If a person would like help for their air duster misuse, they can speak with their healthcare professional. A doctor can discuss what treatment options might be best suitable.

Alternatively, individuals can use online resources to find treatment services in their area. SAMHSA provides the online tool findtreatment.gov to help people search for treatment options near them.

Can of compressed airnear me

(1) D.P. Mellor (1958), 'Optical Munitions', Australia in the War of 1939-1945: The Role of Science and Industry, ch. 12, series 4: civil, vol. 5, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, p. 255. (2) J.S. Rogers, The History of the Optical Munitions Panel: July 1940 - December 1946, Australian Archives, Brighton, Melbourne, MP 730/11, Box 3, p. 49. Published by the Australian Science Archives Project on ASAPWeb, 30 April 1997 Comments or corrections to: Bright Sparcs (bsparcs@asap.unimelb.edu.au) Prepared by: Denise Sutherland and Elissa Tenkate Updated by: Elissa Tenkate Date modified: 19 February 1998 | Top | Bright Sparcs | ASAPWeb |

Following the production of the 'melt', the optical glass is then poured into moulds which form prisms, lens blanks and slabs. Prism cubes of up to 5 inches (12.7 cm) and lenses of up to 8 inches (20.3 cm) were made by an Australian Consolidated Industries subsidiary: Australian Window Glass Pty Ltd, in Sydney. After moulding, the glass blanks are annealed. Annealing is the process of controlled thermal treatment to lower the level of strain inside the glass caused by uneven cooling. It involves raising the glass to a high enough temperature to relieve the strain, then the glass is gradually cooled again. Optical glass needs the most careful annealing because of the significant effect of residual strain on the final optical properties of the glass. (1) D.P. Mellor (1958), 'Optical Munitions', Australia in the War of 1939-1945: The Role of Science and Industry, ch. 12, series 4: civil, vol. 5, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, p. 255. (2) J.S. Rogers, The History of the Optical Munitions Panel: July 1940 - December 1946, Australian Archives, Brighton, Melbourne, MP 730/11, Box 3, p. 49. Published by the Australian Science Archives Project on ASAPWeb, 30 April 1997 Comments or corrections to: Bright Sparcs (bsparcs@asap.unimelb.edu.au) Prepared by: Denise Sutherland and Elissa Tenkate Updated by: Elissa Tenkate Date modified: 19 February 1998 | Top | Bright Sparcs | ASAPWeb |

Air dusters are cans of compressed air that people use for cleaning hard-to-reach areas. Air dusters are legal to buy, and people can find them in many hardware stores.

Other ingredients required for optical glass came from various Australian states: calcite (for lime or calcium oxide) - George's Plains (near Bathurst, New South Wales); zinc oxide - Tasmania; lead oxide - Port Pirie, South Australia; and soda ash - Imperial Chemical Industries' plant at Osborne, South Australia. The remaining ingredients were supplied by the UK (potassium nitrate and hydrated alumina) and the USA (borax and boric acid) and had been stockpiled by Australian Consolidated Industries before war broke out. (1) However, while Australia had all the ingredients to make optical glass, we did not have the procedures in place to do so. Optical glass is hard to form and expensive to produce; extraordinarily high temperatures are required to melt the quartz sands and these temperature make the mixture highly reactive. This can lead to contamination of the mixture through chemical reactions with containers that hold the molten glass. Optical glass is also a very viscous product, and it is difficult to get tiny bubbles out of the mixture. To make optical glass, fine sand and various mixtures of oxides, such as potash (potassium oxide), soda (sodium oxide), lime (calcium oxide) and magnesium oxide are melted together in a pot. The pot, or refractory, is lined with, or made of, special clays. As mentioned above, the glass produced in the refractory can be affected by impurities in the clay which leak out of the clay and into the 'melt' of optical glass. Australian Consolidated Industries, in conjuction with Professor Hartung from the University of Melbourne, tested over 100 clays from all over Australia until they found the right clays to use in their pot construction. In June 1941, Hartung reported: Much work has been done on the testing and selection of suitable pot clays for melting optical glass. After the accumulation of sufficient evidence from our experiments in Melbourne, I went to Sydney towards the end of February last, and discussed the whole matter fully with the staff of Messrs. A.C.I. who are concerned with the development of the project. As a result, a standard blend of four pot clays was selected for use in the making of full scale pots for the production of optical glass.(2) Following the production of the 'melt', the optical glass is then poured into moulds which form prisms, lens blanks and slabs. Prism cubes of up to 5 inches (12.7 cm) and lenses of up to 8 inches (20.3 cm) were made by an Australian Consolidated Industries subsidiary: Australian Window Glass Pty Ltd, in Sydney. After moulding, the glass blanks are annealed. Annealing is the process of controlled thermal treatment to lower the level of strain inside the glass caused by uneven cooling. It involves raising the glass to a high enough temperature to relieve the strain, then the glass is gradually cooled again. Optical glass needs the most careful annealing because of the significant effect of residual strain on the final optical properties of the glass. (1) D.P. Mellor (1958), 'Optical Munitions', Australia in the War of 1939-1945: The Role of Science and Industry, ch. 12, series 4: civil, vol. 5, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, p. 255. (2) J.S. Rogers, The History of the Optical Munitions Panel: July 1940 - December 1946, Australian Archives, Brighton, Melbourne, MP 730/11, Box 3, p. 49. Published by the Australian Science Archives Project on ASAPWeb, 30 April 1997 Comments or corrections to: Bright Sparcs (bsparcs@asap.unimelb.edu.au) Prepared by: Denise Sutherland and Elissa Tenkate Updated by: Elissa Tenkate Date modified: 19 February 1998 | Top | Bright Sparcs | ASAPWeb |

Inhaling the gas from an air duster can cause temporary feelings of euphoria. However, air dusters can contain various dangerous substances. When a person inhales them, these substances can cause serious side effects, such as organ damage, coma, or death.

If someone has concerns about their air duster misuse, they can speak with their healthcare professional. Doctors can help find a suitable treatment.