Paintball
CO2
and
Compressed Air

CO2 means carbon dioxide and it is
used to propel the paintball through
the barrel and at your "target." The
CO2 is compressed into a canister
that is of reasonable size.
(Usually 9oz.-20oz.)
Having that much contents under
pressure makes it really powerful,
and that's why it hurts to be shot.

If a tank is exposed to high temperatures
or pressures exceeding 3000psi,
then a burst disk will rupture. This
happens so that the tank doesn't explode.
Your tank could also explode if you slam
it on the ground or against a tree.

In a very rare occasion, a paintballer's
tank got a leak in it. The compressed air
was so powerful, that it broke his skin.
He was then hospitalized for a day or two.

For government issues on CO2 goto Here