Gasoline

Gasoline or petrol is a toxic translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives.  The bulk of typical gasoline consists of hydrocarbons, but the actual contents can vary enormously between refinery streams which blend the gasoline according to the final market.  Just some of the additives and ingredients include:

• naphthenes (cycloalkanes)

• paraffins (alkanes),

• olefins (alkenes)

• benzene

• toluene

• xylene

• isobutane

• isomerate

• organic ethers (deliberately added)

• “small levels of contaminants”, in particular organosulfur compounds

• aromatic hydrocarbons

• ethers

• alcohol (usually ethanol or methanol) – see below.

• Tetraethyl lead – although generally not added these days, fuel containing lead may continue to be sold for off-road uses, including aircraft, racing cars, farm equipment, and marine engines

• Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) has been used for many years in Canada and recently in Australia to boost octane. It also helps old cars designed for leaded fuel run on unleaded fuel without need for additives to prevent valve problems.  MMT is suspected to be a powerful neurotoxin and respiratory toxin

• Substituted phenols and derivatives of phenylenediamine are common antioxidants used to inhibit gum formation in gasoline (petrol).

• metal deactivators which are compounds that sequester (deactivate) metal salts that otherwise accelerate the formation of gummy residues.

• Dye - In Australia, petrol tends to be dyed a light shade of purple. In the United States, the most commonly used aircraft gasoline is dyed blue. Red dye has been used for identifying untaxed (off highway use) agricultural diesel. The UK uses red dye to differentiate between regular diesel fuel, which is undyed, and diesel intended for agricultural and construction vehicles like excavators and bulldozers.

• Detergents - additives to reduce internal engine carbon buildups, improve combustion, and to allow easier starting in cold climates. Typical detergents include alkylamines and alkyl phosphates at the level of 50-100 ppm.

• Ethanol - It is possible that some of the effects from huffing gasoline are obtained from the Ethanol – in other words the alcohol content  In the EU, 5% ethanol can be added within the common gasoline spec (EN 228). Discussions are ongoing to allow 10% blending of ethanol (available in French gas stations). Most gasoline sold in Sweden has 5-15% ethanol added, also sold is gasoline blended with ethanol, 85% ethanol .  In Brazil, gasoline for automobile has from 18 to 25% of ethanol added to its composition In Australia, legislation limits ethanol use to 10% of gasoline.   In the United States most fuel pumps display a sticker stating the fuel may contain up to 10% ethanol, an intentional disparity which allows the minimum level to be raised over time without requiring modification of the literature/labelling. In parts of the United States, ethanol is sometimes added to gasoline without an indication that it is a component in some states.

• oxygen-bearing compounds such as MTBE, ETBE and ethanol. The presence of these oxygenates reduces the amount of carbon monoxide and unburned fuel in the exhaust gas.

In effect, anyone sniffing or huffing gasoline can be inhaling a combination of all these [toxic] substances!

Gasoline inhalation effects

Inhalation of gasoline leads to permanent injury and death.  The ethanol [alcohol] added may result in some inebriation, the endorphins triggered by the body reacting to likely death from the toxins or hypoxia may give you a sort of odd high, but none of this is remotely spiritual. The risks include

• Hypoxia - can occur due to inhaling fumes from a plastic bag, or from using proper equipment but not adding oxygen or room air.

• Burns – many of these products are volatile and can catch fire or explode, especially when combined with smoking.

• Incidental injury - users may also injure themselves due to loss of coordination or impaired judgment, especially if they attempt to drive.

• Pneumonia

• Cardiac failure  or arrest

• Vomiting and nausea – which due to the sedated state can lead to aspiration of vomit

• Hearing loss

• Limb spasms and seizures

• Damage to the central nervous system – toluene in particular can damage myelin fibres

• Brain damage -brain damage is typically seen with chronic long-term use as opposed to short-term exposure

• Liver and kidney damage

• Death  - death is generally caused by a very high concentration of fumes. Deliberately inhaling from an attached paper or plastic bag or in a closed area greatly increases the chances of suffocation.  Death occurs most commonly from aspiration of vomit while unconscious or from a combination of respiratory depression and hypoxia.   Deaths typically occur from complications related to excessive sedation and vomiting.

Some of the problems used to be the lead in the petrol, thus in theory some of the problems ought to have been removed once lead was removed, but in practise, so many other additives with equally dangerous toxic effects are present that the removal of the lead has had little effect -  the brain damage and organ damage is still a reality.  The following scientific studies all provide evidence of this.

The cases studies – observations  - also provide additional information.

Furthermore, if you don’t die you can so mess up your mind that you don’t know what you are doing or become violent, dangerous and even permanently psychotic.

References

http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/petroleum_ether/petroleum_ether.shtml