Preventable in-body hydrogen explosions from high-concentration H2 inhalers in Japan-Switch to safe, low-concentration hydrogen therapy.
Yusuke Ichikawa, Bunpei Sato, Yoshiyasu Takefuji, Fumitake Satoh · The International journal of risk & safety in medicine · 2026
Research-use notice
Independent study record
Each H2HUBB study page organizes source-linked research details for educational use. Interpretation should remain proportional to the study design, population, controls, and limitations.
H2HUBB TAKEAWAY
This narrative review examined the available molecular-hydrogen literature. Immediate transition to low-concentration (≤10% v/v H₂) inhalers is strongly recommended, as they provide effective concentration while eliminating life-threatening risks, ensuring patient safety without compromising clinical outcomes. The reviewed evidence adds support for molecular hydrogen's therapeutic potential across the conditions, mechanisms, or outcomes examined.
What the Findings Mean
H2HUBB reviewed this publication as a synthesis of molecular-hydrogen research and summarizes the outcomes emphasized by the authors. Immediate transition to low-concentration (≤10% v/v H₂) inhalers is strongly recommended, as they provide effective concentration while eliminating life-threatening risks, ensuring patient safety without compromising clinical outcomes.
What the Researchers Studied
The authors reviewed preventable in-body hydrogen explosions from high-concentration H₂ inhalers in Japan-Switch to safe, low-concentration hydrogen therapy.
What Effects Did Molecular Hydrogen Have?
With the growing recognition of the medical applications of hydrogen, hydrogen gas inhalers are increasingly used in clinics and other healthcare settings. However, hydrogen is highly explosive, and numerous explosion incidents involving these inhalers have been reported. High-concentration inhalers (>10% v/v H₂) pose a substantial explosion risk, as confirmed by multiple device failures reported by Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency and a 2024 in-vivo pulmonary explosion case. Immediate transition to low-concentration (≤10% v/v H₂) inhalers is strongly recommended, as they provide effective concentration while eliminating life-threatening risks, ensuring patient safety without compromising clinical outcomes.
Why These Findings Matter
The reviewed evidence adds support for molecular hydrogen's therapeutic potential across the conditions, mechanisms, or outcomes examined.
How Strong Is This Evidence?
This is review or synthesis evidence (narrative review).
Technical Study Details
H2HUBB classifies this publication as narrative review with review or synthesis evidence. The study used a narrative review.
Limitations and Safety
No separate limitations or safety findings were identified in the source text available to H2HUBB.
Original Study and H2HUBB Research Context
H2HUBB presents this source-grounded research record as one contribution to the broader molecular-hydrogen evidence base.