Acute toxicity of gasoline and some additives
- Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
- Inst. for Evaluating Health Risks, Washington, DC (United States)
The acute toxicity of gasoline; its components benzene, toluene, and xylene; and the additives ethanol, methanol, and methyl tertiary butyl ether are reviewed. All of these chemicals are only moderately to mildly toxic at acute doses. Because of their volatility, these compounds are not extensively absorbed dermally unless the exposed skin is occluded. Absorption through the lungs and the gastrointestinal tract is quite efficient. After ingestion, the principal danger for a number of these chemicals, particularly gasoline, is aspiration pneumonia, which occurs mainly in children. It is currently not clear whether aspiration pneumonia would still be a problem if gasoline were diluted with ethanol or methanol. During the normal use of gasoline or mixtures of gasoline and the other solvents as a fuel, exposures would be much lower than the doses that have resulted in poisoning. No acute toxic health effects would occur during the normal course of using automotive fuels. 128 refs., 7 tabs.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 478942
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9111356-; ISSN 0091-6765; TRN: 97:000657-0016
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 101, Issue Suppl.6; Conference: International symposium on the health effects of gasoline, Miami, FL (United States), 5-8 Nov 1991; Other Information: PBD: Dec 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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