Butane exposure

THE MOON RULES --1 · voted for the moon

Call out to all bees, does anyone happen to know the long term effects of butane exposure? IE, inhalation, skin exposure.

And a follow up are there any risks to smoking hash oil that has been diluted with alcohol, everclear? A long time rhodium told me that its no more harmfull then drinking it, but I just dissagree. I just can't see how that can't be damaging, when you can taste the alcohol going in your lungs. Question

MistaMiyagi · Dream Team

The references I have read to date suggest no long-term effects of butane exposure.

In the acute (short-term) setting, at concentrations high enough to lower corresponding oxygen concentrations to hypoxic levels results in CNS depression. I postulate that this is due to oxygen deprivation and not a primary effect of butane.

Butane is metabolized in vivo to 2-butanol and methyl ethyl ketone, both of which are rapidly excreted through the respiratory tract.

Animal studies of butane do not demonstrate significant carcinogenic, teratogenic, or mutagenic effects. However, animal studies of its metabolite, methyl ethyl ketone, do show statistically significant amounts of these effects. Since the in vivo half-life of butane is extremely short, however, I do not believe that the metabolite would be in the body long enough to have detrimental effects.

In summary, there appears (at this point) to be no inherent danger in butane exposure. Any acute effects you may notice (dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting) are most likely attributable to hypoxia... go get a breath of fresh air Smile

Regards,
MM

MistaMiyagi · Dream Team

In regards to the alcohol (ETHANOL) exposure, there is no significant difference between inhaling it and drinking it. While the lining of the respiratory tract is not generally exposed to ethanol from the epithelial surface, it would have no effect different than exposure through the bloodstream.

It is noteworthy that the "taste" of alcohol going into your lungs is simply a result of the unconscious blending your brain does with the senses of smell and taste. Any reference on flavorings or cooking will certainly point out that most of the "flavor" of a food is conveyed as gaseous matter being smelled... which is why hot food tends to taste better. Another note is that the effective concentration to which the cells of the respiratory tract are being exposed to during inhalation is likely MUCH LOWER THAN its exposure when alcohol is ingested.

This information applies only to ethanol (beverage alcohol). Methanol, or wood alcohol, is a beast of an entirely different color. Absorption of relatively minute amounts of methanol can have lasting effects on your health.

One last interesting note: the antidote for acute methanol poisoning is intravenous ethanol. Seriously! So if you are concerned about experiencing the effects of methanol poisoning, go get yourself drunk on real booze. I'm not kidding on this.

Regards,
MistaMiyagi

THE MOON RULES --1 · voted for the moon

"It is noteworthy that the "taste" of alcohol going into your lungs is simply a result of the unconscious blending your brain does with the senses of smell and taste."

Isn't the ethanol just vaporizing and condensing in your mouth/lungs just as it would be distilled? The oil boils, the vapor releases, travels up the pipe stem into your mouth, which is cooler then the pipe, doesn't it just condense?

So then can you actually just inhale boiling ethanol, and become intoxicated? Not that I would, but just for the sake of a bet.

IndoleAmine · Dreamreader Deluxe

I remember a funny apparatus that was/is sold online by some freak; it is supposed to get you high by vaporizing EtOH, and you have to inhale these vapors...

..strange thing. Just wanted to mention it...
Mr. Green

i_a

THE MOON RULES --1 · voted for the moon

small amounts here and there i'm not worried about. But shit vaporizing alcohol to get drunk, just doesn't sound healthy. I wonder if that contraption ever made its appearance at a frat house. Bet they'd be flopping like fish.

Xque · Sun Mar 13, 2005 8:43 pm

I know it's a pretty bad way to introduce myself by an offtopic post, sorry for doing so, I hope I shan't be judged.

But anyway, have a look at this link; there's several bars around the world who serve "inhalable alcohol".

Vitus · Psychoscientist

I wonder if the condensed ethanol could solvate the tar deposited on a smoker's lungs, so this solution can enter the blood-stream and be disposed out of the body eventually...

I'm sure dr. O. Dubois would recommend this (in combination with his Blood-purifying Pills) Smile

IndoleAmine · Dreamreader Deluxe

And these pills helps wonders, really. Laughing

Same goes for huffing ether: the body temp. causes a nice reflux of Et2O in your lungs, for at least several minutes; and this dissolves the tarry substances smokers suffer from - so they can be excreted...

HUFF ETHER! ITS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH! *joke*

Mr. Green

nubee · Master Archiver

ive felt very strange after being near butane extraction, the fumes are not that nice... as well as the other stuff that may be in there...