Another sneeze in a lab (M-self)

[strong sneeze32]

This happened in my last year of high school, and my observation yesterday reminded me of it. (I'm pretty sure I was over 18 at that time)

It was a Monday morning and I had a bad cold. My nose itched all morning, but never reached the edge of sneezing. I just need to blow my nose a lot.

Throughout the class, the itch in my nose kept bothering me and I wanted to sneeze to relieve it but I didn't. Not only was this because I didn't want to sneeze in public, but the itch in my nose didn't provide enough power for a sneeze. I tried gazing at the sun during the experiment, but it didn't work.

However, when I poured the experimental waste into a collection box, the powdery waste got into my nose. I was well aware it was almost harmless to humans, but my nose was getting more and more itchy.

I felt a sneeze forming and I couldn’t hold it before I organized my instruments and left the lab. The itch in my nose was so intense due to the powder that I had no choice but to release my sneeze in the lab.

So I went to the corner, took out my tissue, and waited for the building sneeze. Soon, my nose exploded.

“AISHHOOO!”

I sneezed onto the tissue and blow my nose with it.

I can't remember if my sneeze bothered anyone else. All I can remember is that it was a messy one and some purple powder was sprayed onto the tissue by my sneeze.

[bingochamp7]

I wonder what substance the purple powder was, but it’s good you got the relief you were looking for.

[strong sneeze32]

6 hours ago, bingochamp7 said:

I wonder what substance the purple powder was, but it’s good you got the relief you were looking for.

Oh, thank you!

I think the powder was mainly potassium permanganate(KMnO₄) and its decomposition products(K₂MnO₄ and MnO₂). It came from the oxygen generation unit.

Potassium permanganate seems to cause irritation of mucous membranes. But I can't remember if anyone else sneezed after dumping powdery waste that day.