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Another death in US attributed to Takata air bag inflators that can spew shrapnel

DETROIT, MI (AP)— Another death is being linked to dangerous Takata air bag inflators by U.S. regulators, the 28th in the United States.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the driver was killed in 2018 in Alabama in a Honda vehicle but gave no further details. It says the death underscores the need for people to replace recalled air bag inflators.

Takata used ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate air bags in a crash, but the chemical can deteriorate over time due to high heat and humidity and explode with too much force. That can blow apart a metal canister and send shrapnel into the passenger compartment.

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.