diff --git a/src/elements/O2.c b/src/elements/O2.c
index 8b9cecea7..37dcd8d72 100644
--- a/src/elements/O2.c
+++ b/src/elements/O2.c
@@ -49,14 +49,14 @@ int update_O2(UPDATE_FUNC_ARGS)
 		if (rand()%5 < 1)
 		{
 			int j;
-			part_change_type(i,x,y,PT_PLSM);
-			parts[i].life = rand()%150+50;
+			create_part(i,x,y,PT_BRMT);
+
 			j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_NEUT); if (j != -1) parts[j].temp = 15000;
 			j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_PHOT); if (j != -1) parts[j].temp = 15000;
-			j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_BRMT); if (j != -1) parts[j].temp = 15000;
-			j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_SING); if (j != -1) { parts[j].temp = 15000; parts[i].life = rand()%25+50; }
+			j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_PLSM); if (j != -1) parts[j].temp = 15000;
+			if (rand()%5 < 2) { j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_SING); if (j != -1) { parts[j].temp = 15000; parts[i].life = rand()%25+50; } }
 
-			parts[i].temp += 15000;
+			parts[i].temp = 15000;
 			pv[y/CELL][x/CELL] += 300;
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/elements/co2.c b/src/elements/co2.c
index adf85f574..486269eb4 100644
--- a/src/elements/co2.c
+++ b/src/elements/co2.c
@@ -50,15 +50,14 @@ int update_CO2(UPDATE_FUNC_ARGS) {
 		if (rand()%5 < 1)
 		{
 			int j;
-			kill_part(i);
+			create_part(i,x,y,PT_O2);
+
 			j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_NEUT); if (j != -1) parts[j].temp = 15000;
 			if (!(rand()%50)) { j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_ELEC); if (j != -1) parts[j].temp = 15000; }
-			j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_O2);  if (j != -1) parts[j].temp = 15000;
-			if (rand()%1000 < 1) { j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_SING); if (j != -1) { parts[j].temp = 15000; parts[i].life = 3; } }
+			//if (rand()%1000 < 1) { j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_SING); if (j != -1) { parts[j].temp = 15000; parts[i].life = 3; } }
 
-			parts[i].temp += 15000;
+			parts[i].temp = 15000;
 			pv[y/CELL][x/CELL] += 100;
-			return 1;
 		}
 	}
 	return 0;
diff --git a/src/elements/h2.c b/src/elements/h2.c
index 86c3be3dc..5be3eccfd 100644
--- a/src/elements/h2.c
+++ b/src/elements/h2.c
@@ -58,14 +58,13 @@ int update_H2(UPDATE_FUNC_ARGS)
 		{
 			int j;
 			float temp = parts[i].temp;
-			part_change_type(i,x,y,PT_PLSM);
-			parts[i].life = rand()%150+50;
+			create_part(i,x,y,PT_NBLE);
+
 			j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_NEUT); if (j != -1) parts[j].temp = temp;
 			if (!(rand()%10)) { j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_ELEC); if (j != -1) parts[j].temp = temp; }
-			j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_PHOT);
-			if (j != -1) { parts[j].ctype = 0xFFFF00; parts[j].temp = temp; }
+			j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_PHOT); if (j != -1) { parts[j].ctype = 0xFFFF00; parts[j].temp = temp; }
 
-			j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_NBLE); if (j != -1) parts[j].temp = temp;
+			j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_PLSM); if (j != -1) parts[j].temp = temp;
 
 			if (rand()%2)
 			{
@@ -73,7 +72,7 @@ int update_H2(UPDATE_FUNC_ARGS)
 				if (j != -1) { parts[j].tmp = 1; parts[j].temp = temp; }
 			}
 
-			parts[i].temp += 750+rand()%500;
+			parts[i].temp = temp+750+rand()%500;
 			pv[y/CELL][x/CELL] += 30;
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/elements/nble.c b/src/elements/nble.c
index 0c118ede2..31f6fc847 100644
--- a/src/elements/nble.c
+++ b/src/elements/nble.c
@@ -23,17 +23,15 @@ int update_NBLE(UPDATE_FUNC_ARGS)
 		{
 			int j;
 			float temp = parts[i].temp;
-			part_change_type(i,x,y,PT_PLSM);
-			parts[i].life = rand()%150+50;
+			create_part(i,x,y,PT_CO2);
+
 			j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_NEUT); if (j != -1) parts[j].temp = temp;
 			if (!(rand()%25)) { j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_ELEC); if (j != -1) parts[j].temp = temp; }
-			j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_PHOT);
-			if (j != -1) { parts[j].ctype = 0xFF0000; parts[j].temp = temp; }
+			j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_PHOT); if (j != -1) { parts[j].ctype = 0xFF0000; parts[j].temp = temp; }
 
-			j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_CO2);
-			if (j != -1) parts[j].temp = temp;
+			j = create_part(-3,x+rand()%3-1,y+rand()%3-1,PT_PLSM); if (j != -1) parts[j].temp = temp;
 
-			parts[i].temp += 1750+rand()%500;
+			parts[i].temp = temp+1750+rand()%500;
 			pv[y/CELL][x/CELL] += 50;
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/powder.c b/src/powder.c
index 6a7d68d30..0e528fd94 100644
--- a/src/powder.c
+++ b/src/powder.c
@@ -2918,7 +2918,7 @@ void update_particles(pixel *vid)//doesn't update the particles themselves, but
 						pmap[y][x] = t|(i<<8);
 					// Count number of particles at each location, for excess stacking check
 					// (there are a few exceptions, including energy particles - currently no limit on stacking those)
-					if (t!=PT_THDR && t!=PT_EMBR && t!=PT_FIGH)
+					if (t!=PT_THDR && t!=PT_EMBR && t!=PT_FIGH && t!=PT_PLSM)
 						pmap_count[y][x]++;
 				}
 			}