Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Toxicity
The Bottom Line
Gasoline and diesel are petroleum hydrocarbons. Inhaling their fumes can cause lung irritation and neurological toxicity. Chronic abuse can be dangerous. Swallowing gasoline/diesel can irritate the digestive tract and result in aspiration into the lungs, resulting in chemical pneumonitis. Skin exposure can cause irritation and redness, while prolonged exposure results in chemical burns.
Gasoline and diesel fuel: What is it?
Both gasoline and diesel are refined from crude oil. They are petroleum-based hydrocarbons used to power engines. Gasoline is more refined than diesel fuel, which means it is thinner, more volatile, and burns faster. You cannot use diesel fuel in a gasoline car since it will clog the fuel lines and damage the engine. You cannot use gasoline in a diesel engine, as it will cause misfiring and possibly engine stalling with long-term damage to the engine.Inhaling gasoline and diesel fumes
Inhaling gasoline and diesel fumes can cause lung irritation as well as confusion, disorientation, headache, blurred vision, dizziness, weakness, and sleepiness. Abnormal cardiac rhythms are possible but less likely than with other types of hydrocarbons.Swallowing gasoline
Swallowing gasoline or diesel fuel can cause mouth, throat, and stomach irritation resulting in nausea and vomiting and, less commonly, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. Gasoline and diesel fuels are not absorbed by the body, so the risk for systemic toxicity is low.
However, these fuels have low viscosity and high volatility, which means that as they are swallowed, they can be aspirated (inhaled into the lungs). The main concern is chemical pneumonitis as a result of aspiration. If aspirated, immediate coughing, choking, and difficulty breathing can occur. Subsequently, the person can experience rapid breathing, wheezing, low oxygen and high carbon dioxide levels in the blood, fever, respiratory failure, lung infection, and other pulmonary complications.
Gasoline on the skin
Gasoline on the skin can cause irritation, redness, and discomfort. Chemical burns of the skin can occur with prolonged contact with gasoline or diesel.
Is chronic exposure to gasoline fumes dangerous?
Chronic exposure to gasoline can be dangerous. Chronic exposure is usually due to intentional abuse of gasoline by inhalation (sniffing, huffing) which can result in irritability, confusion, disorientation, depression/anxiety, memory loss, dizziness, tremor, ataxia (impaired gait), incoordination, muscle spasms, and other neurological effects. Chronic abuse can also cause kidney disease and neurological disorders. Chronic exposure to the fumes can also cause eye damage and dermatitis.
Siphoning gasoline: What you need to know
Siphoning gasoline can be dangerous if you apply suction with your mouth until the hose is full since you are at risk of swallowing and aspirating a mouthful of gasoline. For this reason, it is not recommended to siphon gasoline.
What to do if you suspect gasoline/diesel poisoning?
If someone has no symptoms after swallowing a small amount of gasoline or diesel fuel, it is probably safe to watch them at home. Seek medical attention if coughing, wheezing, trouble breathing or fever occur. If gasoline or diesel is accidentally inhaled, move the person to fresh air and check for respiratory distress. Following a spill on the skin, wash twice with soap and water.
For a splash in the eyes, rinse the eyes with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes. If symptoms such as eye irritation or pain, tearing or sensitivity to light are present after rinsing, the person should see an eye doctor.
Help from experts is available through the webPOISONCONTROL online tool and by phone at 1-800-222-1222. Poison Control’s expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.
Wendy Klein-Schwartz, Pharm.D., MPHClinical Toxicologist
Poisoned?
Call 1-800-222-1222 or
Prevention Tips
- Wash hands with soap and water after handling gasoline and diesel fuels.
- Use gasoline in well ventilated areas with fresh air.
- When storing gasoline or diesel fuel, store it up, away, and out of sight of children and pets.
- Keep gasoline and diesel fuel in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area and away from heat and flames.
- Avoid prolonged breathing of fumes.
- Do not siphon gasoline by mouth.
- Be aware of signs of intentional inhalation abuse (such as gasoline smell on clothes or skin, red eyes, runny nose, and sores around mouth). Learn more about inhalant abuse.
This Really Happened
A father left a small container of gasoline in the garage for use in the lawn mower. His 3-year-old daughter picked up the container, spilled it on herself, and swallowed some gasoline. She vomited, choked, and coughed immediately after the ingestion. The father rinsed out her mouth, took off the wet clothes, and washed her skin with soap and water. When she continued coughing, the father called Poison Control, who told the father that rinsing her mouth and washing with soap and water were appropriate treatments.
When asked if she appeared to be in respiratory distress (marked by difficulty breathing, choking, or blue lips), the father replied that she did not. However, since she was still coughing, Poison Control recommended a referral to the emergency department. In the emergency department, she was still coughing but less frequently. The oxygen in her blood was normal and a chest x-ray several hours after the ingestion was negative. Since her symptoms were resolving, she was discharged home.
For More Information
References
Fortenberry JD. Gasoline sniffing. Am J Med. 1985;79(6):740-744. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(85)90525-x.
Gasoline abuse in a 10-year-old child with mental retardation. A case report. Subst Abuse. 2015;9:5-8. doi: 10.4137/SART.S20148.
Kovanen J, Somer H, Schroeder P. Acute myopathy associated with gasoline sniffing. Neurology. 1983;33(5):629-631. doi: 10.1212/wnl.33.5.629.
Murthy AS, Das S, Hanuman SB. Fatal diesel poisoning. A case report and brief review of literature. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2018;39(2):169-172. doi: 10.1097/PAF.0000000000000385.
Rahman I, Narasimhan K, Aziz S, Owens W. Gasoline ingestion: a rare cause of pancytopenia. Am J Med Sci 2009;338(5):433-444. doi: 10.1097/MAJ.0b013e3181b7f2a3.
Reese E. Kimbrough RD. Acute toxicity of gasoline and some additives. Environ Health Perspect. 1993;101 Suppl 6):115-131. doi: 10.1289/ehp.93101s6115.
Poisoned?
Call 1-800-222-1222 or
Prevention Tips
- Wash hands with soap and water after handling gasoline and diesel fuels.
- Use gasoline in well ventilated areas with fresh air.
- When storing gasoline or diesel fuel, store it up, away, and out of sight of children and pets.
- Keep gasoline and diesel fuel in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area and away from heat and flames.
- Avoid prolonged breathing of fumes.
- Do not siphon gasoline by mouth.
- Be aware of signs of intentional inhalation abuse (such as gasoline smell on clothes or skin, red eyes, runny nose, and sores around mouth). Learn more about inhalant abuse.
This Really Happened
A father left a small container of gasoline in the garage for use in the lawn mower. His 3-year-old daughter picked up the container, spilled it on herself, and swallowed some gasoline. She vomited, choked, and coughed immediately after the ingestion. The father rinsed out her mouth, took off the wet clothes, and washed her skin with soap and water. When she continued coughing, the father called Poison Control, who told the father that rinsing her mouth and washing with soap and water were appropriate treatments.
When asked if she appeared to be in respiratory distress (marked by difficulty breathing, choking, or blue lips), the father replied that she did not. However, since she was still coughing, Poison Control recommended a referral to the emergency department. In the emergency department, she was still coughing but less frequently. The oxygen in her blood was normal and a chest x-ray several hours after the ingestion was negative. Since her symptoms were resolving, she was discharged home.