Hello from Indiana, On occasion I have used ammonium nitrate in my smoker. When it is heated it produces nitrous oxide, laughing gas. The first time I used I was sure that I had killed every bee in the hive. I had used too much and the bees were all out cold. In a few minutes they were all back moving around. Burning the ammonium nitrate can be dangerous. It is used to make what many people call dyamite. It is mixed with kerosene and packed in tubes. It was the fertilizer that was being loaded on ships to be sent Europe at a Texas port after WW II. It blew up and nearly wiped out the port. I don't think that you need worry about it blowing up but it does burn very hot and produces clouds of smoke, even without pumping the bellows. The way that I used it was to help controll a particularly nasty hive or when I had to work on the bees when the conditions were not favorable. I soaked burlap in a solution of ammonium nitrate and water and then dried the burlap. This was held separate from my other burlap to use in extreme conditions. I think that there has been some things written about health concerns but if you don't use it everyday it probably wouldn't be any worse than breathing the smoke from the smoker that has drifted into your face. I don't want to breath anymore of it than necessary. Charlie -------------------------------------------------------- Charles R. Bradley Extension Educator Marshall County Extension Office 112 W. Jefferson Street Room 304 Plymouth, IN 46563 Phone: 219-935-8545 Fax: 219-935-8612 E-mail: [log in to unmask] --------------------------------------------------------