Relation of body mass index and waist-to-height ratio to cardiovascular disease risk factors in children and adolescents: the Bogalusa Heart Study. Freedman DS, Kahn HS, Mei Z, Grummer-Strawn LM, Dietz WH, Srinivasan SR, Berenson GS. [PubMed-indexed for MEDLINE].
Smelling salts release ammonia (NH3) gas, which triggers an inhalation reflex (that is, causes the muscles that control breathing to work faster) by irritating the mucous membranes of the nose and lungs. Although these hypothetical mechanisms have been discussed, it is likely that smelling salts are not effective.
Most of the smelling salts available today, are a mixture of dilute ammonia, water, and ethanol, and hence, should be ideally referred to as 'aromatic spirits of ammonia'. Their chemical formula is (NH 4) 2 CO 3 H 2 O. Ammonium carbonate is the most active compound of smelling salts.