GASOLINE

HAZARDOUS CONSTITUENT POSSIBLE EFFECTS
TETRAETHYL LEAD Nerve toxin, small amounts are fatal

Gasoline, a petroleum distillate product combined with various additives, is flammable and highly toxic. Leaded gasoline contains tetraethyl lead, a highly toxic metal compound. Unleaded gasoline contains high octane components such as benzene (a known human carcinogen), ethylene dichloride (a known animal carcinogen), and methanol (a highly toxic compound).

Gasoline can be harmful to your health through skin contact, skin absorption, inhalation, or ingestion. The first symptoms of poisoning include flushing, slurred speech, staggering, and confusion. Overexposure may result in coma and death. Antioxidants added to keep gasoline from decomposing and forming resins can cause burns to skin and eyes.

Use: Never smoke around gasoline. Keep the lid on the can when not in use. Never siphon gasoline using the mouth because chemical pneumonia may result.

Do not:

When handling gasoline wear NBR rubber, nitrile, or polyvinyl chloride gloves and thoroughly wash your hands before eating or smoking. Avoid breathing vapors.

Storage: Keep out of the reach of children and pets. Store in an approved safety container in a garage or outbuilding with good ventilation. If you have a water heater, furnace, or other source of ignition in your garage, it may not be a safe place to store your gasoline. Keep away from heat, flame, and sources of ignition. Do not completely fill the container - gasoline needs room to expand. While it is a good idea to carry an emply gasoline can in the car, do not keep the can filled with gasoline; the gasoline could explode upon impact.

Disposal: Generally, disposal of gasoline is no problem because it will be used up in an engine. However, dirty or contaminated gasoline cannot be burned in engines and must be saved for disposal by a licensed hazardous waste contractor or through a professional household hazardous waste collection program. For this reason, and health reasons, do not use gasoline as a cleaner or solvent. Never mix gasoline with waste oil. This would produce a highly flammable mixture.

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