Ingesting lava involves immediate and catastrophic physiological destruction. Lava is molten rock that has reached the Earth’s surface, typically ranging between 700°C and 1250°C. Even the coolest lava is far hotter than any organic tissue can withstand, initiating a rapid chain of events leading to systemic failure. This immense heat is the primary destructive force, causing damage no biological system can survive.
Immediate Thermal Destruction
The instant a mass of lava contacts the delicate tissues of the upper digestive tract, the extreme temperature causes an immediate and irreversible thermal injury. Proteins that form the structure of the mouth, tongue, and throat are instantly denatured, leading to catastrophic fourth-degree burns. This level of injury means the tissue is not simply burned but is rapidly destroyed and essentially vaporized upon contact.
The high water content within biological tissues is instantaneously converted into superheated steam. This steam expands violently, causing additional deep thermal trauma as it forces its way into adjacent structures. The rapid swelling and edema of the throat and larynx (laryngeal edema) would almost immediately compromise the airway, leading to rapid suffocation. This localized destruction occurs in moments, preceding any deeper internal damage.
Systemic Failure and Circulatory Collapse
If an amount of lava were to reach internal organs, the body’s reaction to the massive internal burn would be a rapid, cascading physiological failure. Massive internal tissue destruction triggers a widespread, uncontrolled inflammatory cascade, releasing powerful chemical mediators into the bloodstream. This systemic inflammatory response causes the blood vessels to become excessively permeable, allowing the fluid component of blood, or plasma, to leak rapidly out of the circulatory system and into surrounding tissues.
This phenomenon leads to an acute reduction in circulating blood volume, a condition called hypovolemic shock. With less fluid, the heart cannot pump sufficient blood to maintain pressure, causing a drop in cardiac output and systemic blood flow. The resulting lack of perfusion causes major organs like the kidneys and liver to fail immediately due to oxygen and nutrient deprivation. This circulatory collapse is the mechanism of systemic shutdown.
Physical and Chemical Composition Hazards
Beyond the obvious thermal destruction, lava presents distinct hazards related to its physical state and mineral makeup. Lava is significantly more dense and viscous than biological fluids, meaning that once it enters the body, it behaves as a liquid rock that would solidify quickly upon contact with cooler internal tissues. This rapid solidification would create a massive, immovable physical obstruction within the gastrointestinal tract, causing immediate mechanical failure of any affected organ.
Lava’s chemical composition introduces a secondary poisoning hazard. As molten rock, it contains high concentrations of silica, iron, and other heavy metals, along with dissolved gases. Ingestion introduces a massive dose of potentially toxic elements into the body. Volcanic gases, such as sulfur compounds, would also be released, creating corrosive acids that further degrade internal tissues and contribute to organ damage.