Since gas dusters are one of the many inhalants that can be easily abused, many manufacturers have added a bittering agent to deter people from inhaling the product. Because of the generic name "canned air", some people mistakenly believe that the can only contains normal air or contains a less harmful substance such as nitrous oxide. However, the gases actually used are denser than air, and inhaling can lead to paralysis, serious injury, or death. Recently, in the United States and Canada stores have begun to ask for ID to verify if the customer is 18 years or older (some include Fred Meyer, Office Max, Office Depot, Staples, RadioShack, Walgreens, Canadian Tire, Shopko, Target, and Wal-Mart).