Page 173 - Encyclopedia of Chemical Compounds 3 Vols

BUTANE

Words to Know

EUPHORIA A state of extreme happiness and HALLUCINATIONS Visions or other
enhanced well-being. perceptions of things that are not really
present.

is sometimes added to gasoline in cold climates to improve
the rate at which the fuel evaporates and burns. A relatively
new application for butane is as a propellant for spray
products, such as hair spray and spray paints, and as a
refrigerant. Butane is being used for these purposes as a
substitute for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which have been
shown to have damaging effects on the Earth’s ozone layer.
Small amounts of butane are also used as food additives,
usually in foods that are dispensed as sprays.
The primary health hazard posed by butane is its narco-
tic effects. When inhaled, either accidentally or intention-
ally, it produces a sequence of bodily changes that include, at
first, a sense of euphoria and excitement. Increased doses
may then produce harmful results, such as nausea, vomiting,
sneezing, coughing, blurred vision, slurred speech, and
increased salivation. Even higher doses result in confusion,
perceptual distortion, hallucinations, and delusions. Even-
tually, a sequence of life-threatening conditions may develop,
including depression of the central nervous system, irregular
heartbeat, drowsiness, coma, and death.

FOR FURT H ER INFOR M ATIO N
‘‘Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs) for n butane.’’ National
Advisory Council, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, April
2004. Also available online at
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/aegl/pubs/tsd102.pdf (accessed on
December 29, 2005).
‘‘Butane.’’ International Labour Organization.
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/cis/
products/icsc/dtasht/_icsc02/icsc0232.htm (accessed on Decem
ber 29, 2005).

122 CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS