Gasoline

Synonyms

Motor fuel; Motor spirits; Natural gasoline; Petrol; [NIOSH] UN1203

Category

Petroleum, Refined

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

TSCA Definition 2008: A mixture of natural gas distillates (mainly saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons) with carbon numbers of C4 to C8 and boiling points of -20 deg C to 120 deg C; [ChemIDplus] 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 diesel 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 #1

Biomedical References

Insufficient data

300 ppm

500 ppm

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;

Elimination rates of components, e.g., benzene, vary; [TDR, p. 730]

Reference Link #2

may ignite at ambient temp

200 ppm

1000 ppm

4000 ppm

Acute solvent syndrome

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Yes

Possible (2b)

Confirmed Animal

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Solvents, acute toxic effect

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Dry Cleaning
• Petroleum Production and Refining