Agent Name |
Gasoline |
CAS Number |
86290-81-5 |
Major Category |
Solvents |
Synonyms |
Motor fuel; Motor spirits; Natural gasoline; Petrol; [NIOSH] UN1203 |
Category |
Refined Petroleum |
Description |
Clear liquid with a characteristic odor; [NIOSH] |
Sources/Uses |
Gasoline is a complex mixture of volatile hydrocarbons (paraffins, cycloparaffins, and aromatics. [NIOSH] U.S. gasoline contains about 1% benzene and about 1% n-hexane. Gasoline additives include organic lead, ethylene dibromide, ethanol, methanol, methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), and tertiary butyl ether (TBE). [ATSDR Case Studies #31] |
Comments |
Gasoline inhalation exposures to the general public during self-service automobile refueling are not appear a significant health risk--2 minute exposures to approximately 200 ppm gasoline and 1 ppm benzene. (15 min. STELs are 500 ppm and 5 ppm, respectively.) Misuse of gasoline as a solvent or cleaner can cause skin and eye irritation and CNS toxicity after extensive overexposure. [ATSDR Case Studies #31] Gasoline is in the list of "Some volatile substances which may be abused by inhalation" published on the web site of the U.N. International Drug Control Programme, indicating its potential to cause narcosis in workers. [Flanagan et al. Volatile Substance Abuse] Acute tubular necrosis has been reported after heavy and repeated skin exposures to gasoline, turpentine, petroleum naphtha, and deisel oil. [Rosenstock, p. 577] Gasoline C8-C10 causes trivial liver injury in animal studies; No known injury in human cases; [Haddad, p. 226t] |
Reference Link |
ATSDR Medical Management - Gasoline |
Exposure Assessment |
Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
No |
TLV (ACGIH) |
300 ppm |
STEL (ACGIH) |
500 ppm |
Odor Threshold Low |
0.12 ppm |
Odor Threshold High |
0.15 ppm |
Explanatory Notes |
VP = 400-775 mmHg @ 20 deg C; [CHEMINFO]; Flash point = -36 deg F; Recognition odor thresholds from CHEMINFO; |
Half Life |
Elimination rates of components, e.g., benzene, vary; [TDR, p. 730] |
Reference Link |
ATSDR - ToxFAQs - Gasoline, Automotive |
Flammability (NFPA) |
3: may ignite at ambient temperature |
Adverse Effects |
Neurotoxin |
CNS Solvent Syndrome |
Hepatotoxin |
Hepatotoxin, Secondary |
Nephrotoxin |
Yes |
IARC Carcinogen |
Possible Carcinogen |
Links to Other NLM Databases |
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