Gasoline
Pronunciation:gas-uhl-EEN (also pronounced GAS-uhl-een)
Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number:8006-61-9. (Benzine form 86290-
81-5)
Formal Names:Petrol, White Gasoline
Type:Inhalant.Seepage 26
Federal Schedule Listing:Unlisted
USA Availability:Generally unrestricted
Pregnancy Category:None
Uses.Inhaling gasoline fumes can produce effects that researchers liken to
those ofmescaline: euphoria, hallucinations, and distortions of sensory per-
ception including sensations of revolving and floating. Some users experience
feelings of increased power and reduced fear, effects that may encourage mis-
chief from users who are already social outcasts.
Drawbacks.Sniffers have complained of tasting gasoline for days afterward.
Other unwanted effects may include fear, lonely feelings, sleepiness, weak-
ness, headache, poor appetite, nausea, too much salivation, breathing diffi-
culty, dizziness, lightheadedness, ringing in the ears, and amnesia. Conflicting
evidence exists about possible inhalation harm to kidneys in male rats and in
humans, although the human risk is considered low to nonexistent. Case re-
ports tell of muscle injury from inhaling gasoline. Nerve damage can arise,
causing trouble in walking and other movements. Manic behavior and sei-
zures are reported. As with most other inhalant abuse, sudden death can
occur.
The human body reacts to gasoline vapor in the same way regardless of a
person’s motive for inhaling it, and researchers have expressed concern about
health hazards faced by automobile filling station attendants who receive
long-term low-level exposure to gasoline fumes.
Fumes from other types of fuels can have similar actions. In a training ex-
ercise JP-5 aviation fuel vapor leaked into the cockpit of a T-34C turboprop
aircraft. One pilot gradually lost control proficiency, becoming euphoric and
mirthful even though he was told an emergency had been declared. The other
pilot was nauseated but managed to land the craft. Both had trouble walking,
were weary, and had problems completing familiar written reports. The next