Emedinews:Insights on Medicolegal Issues:What is blast lung?

• When a bomb explodes, it causes disruptive effect due to burns, air blast, flying missiles injuries, falling masonry, fumes and incendiary bombs
• A bomb explosion create a pressure of 1000 to 1500 tons per square inch; but, a pressure of 200 kg per square inch is enough to cause destructive injuries to human tissues
• The injuries to the pulmonary tissues and alveoli tissues that occur due to air blast effect are called blast lung injuries. The lungs air blast victims show pleural patchy bleeding on scans. The reactive pulmonary swelling converts into bronchopneumonia and may prove fatal in these cases.