I see that many people are collecting fire extinguishers that contain or have contained carbon tetrachloride,
this is a potentially harmful liquid and can be extremely hazardous to the environment and your health.

Fire extinguisher's that are empty do not pose any threat to your health or the environment and
are perfectly safe to sell & collect, however do not attempt to dispose of the liquid yourself as this
is an offence and can be extremely dangerous.

If you believe your extinguisher to be full, care should be taken in checking that the seals are not broken, if
you are in doubt you should contact your local environmental officer for advice, there is also the potential for
possible liability issues being brought by the delivery company or buyer if it should leak.

Carbon tetrachloride is a clear liquid with a sweet smell that can be detected at low levels,
Carbon tetrachloride can enter your body through your lungs if you breathe air containing it or it can also
pass through the skin into the body.

Exposure to carbon tetrachloride in very high amounts can result in damage to the liver & kidneys, the
nervous system and the brain, If inhaled, can cause many respiratory problems and can also cause cancer in
animals.

Kidney failure is the primary cause of death in people who died after very high exposure to carbon tetrachloride.

Fortunately, if injuries to the liver and kidney are not too severe, these effects disappear after exposure stops.
This is because both organs can repair damaged cells, after exposure to high levels of carbon tetrachloride,
the nervous system, including the brain, is affected. Such exposure can be fatal. The immediate effects are
usually signs of intoxication, including headache, dizziness, and sleepiness perhaps accompanied by nausea
and vomiting.

These effects usually disappear within a day or two after exposure stops, effects of carbon tetrachloride are
more severe in persons who drink large amounts of alcohol.

If exposure is very high, the nervous system, including the brain, is affected. People may feel intoxicated and
experience headaches, dizziness, sleepiness, and nausea and vomiting. These effects may subside if exposure
is stopped, but in severe cases, coma and even death may occur.

Carbon tetrachloride is a volatile, clear, colourless, heavy liquid, it is also an ozone-depleting substance
(CFC-11 and CFC-12), it is not flammable (hence its use in extinguishers) and does not dissolve in water
very easily. It was also used in the production of refrigeration fluid,  propellant for aerosol cans, as a pesticide
and as a dry-cleaning fluid, Because of its harmful effects, these uses are now banned.

Carbon tetrachloride should not be exposed to heat as it produces Phosgene Gas, which can be deadly,
because of the nature of carbon tetrachloride anyone wishing to dispose of anything containing carbon
tetrachloride should contact their local environmental officer about Hazardous Waste disposal.

Carbon tetrachloride is also known as carbon chloride, methane tetrachloride, perchloromethane,
tetrachloroethane, or benziform.