Drinking diesel may lead to nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In serious cases damage to the digestive tract, coma, loss of muscle control, and heart and lung problems can occur.
There is limited evidence to suggest that diesel may be nephrotoxic [5, 6]. Ingestion of diesel or acute exposure to vapour may lead to general signs of intoxication such as mild CNS symptoms (dizziness, headache, nausea) and vomiting [7, 8]. Skin exposure to diesel may result in dermatitis [3, 7].
Swallowing gasoline may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Inhaling high concentrations of gasoline fumes starves the body of oxygen and could result in unconsciousness, respiratory arrest and death. Aspirating, or inhaling liquid gasoline into the lungs, is most dangerous.
“Because of its thickness, even a small amount of diesel fuel in a gas vehicle can clog the engine's fuel injectors, filters, and lines.”
If the chemical was swallowed, immediately give the person water or milk, unless instructed otherwise by a provider. DO NOT give water or milk if the person is unconscious (has a decreased level of alertness). If the person breathed in the poison, immediately move them to fresh air.
This taste is often described as being like fuel, solvents, white spirit or creosote. Petrol or diesel tastes or smells can be caused by fuel or heating oil which has been spilled or leaked on to the ground. These chemicals can travel through plastic water pipes and contaminate your water supply.
For Adults who Swallow Small Amounts of Petrol
Firstly, if they are fully conscious, get them to rinse out their mouth with water. Next, they should carefully drink small sips of water (or juice) – NOT MILK!! It's possible that milk increases the absorption of petrol, making its effects last longer in your body.
Diesel fuel has an octane rating of 25-40. Mixing 2% diesel fuel into gasoline will lower the overall octane rating by 1 point. Getting 10% diesel contamination lowers octane by 5 points, which is enough to create problems in most engines.
As a safe amount the industry generally accepts 5% or less of diesel in petrol is OK. When you work it out for your tank capacity you will soon realise it's not a lot of the wrong fuel before it's too much. See the table below for a guide.
How much diesel fuel is safe in a petrol car? If you have filled diesel for less than 5% of the tank's capacity, then it's safe. You can fill the rest of the tank with petrol and continue driving. However, it's better that you take the help of an expert mechanic before filling up the tank with petrol.
Swallowed Gasoline
That cough might mean that some of the gas entered your lungs, and gasoline is toxic to lung tissues, says Dr. Peacock. If you sucked down only a few ounces and it stayed in your stomach, you'd be all right. You might be a little nauseated, but it wouldn't be dangerous.
Drink lots of milk, it soaks it up. You should be ok.
Drinking diesel may lead to nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In serious cases damage to the digestive tract, coma, loss of muscle control, and heart and lung problems can occur.
Short term exposure to diesel exhaust can cause coughing, and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory tract. Breathing in diesel exhaust can cause lung irritation and/or an allergic reaction causing asthma (wheezing and difficult breathing), or making pre-existing asthma worse.
Diesel engine exhaust (DEE) is created by burning diesel fuels. It contains a mixture of airborne chemicals that can be harmful to people. When breathed in, chemicals in DDE increase your risk of developing long-term health problems. This includes lung cancer and possibly bladder cancer.
The simple answer is diesel emits slightly more pollutants per gallon than gasoline does. But, as is often the case, the simplest answer does not tell the whole story with respect to diesel emissions versus gasoline. The reality is, gasoline both emits more emissions and is a greater polluter than diesel.
Diesel was once heralded as a more environmentally friendly option, largely owing to its relatively lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. But while the harmful effects of CO2 emissions are greater in petrol, the immediate risk to human health is greater from diesel.
Gasoline is naturally clear, white, or slightly amber. Diesel comes out clear or yellow.
Just like oil and water, diesel and water don't mix – they separate. So, if there's water in your tank, it settles to the bottom.
Symptoms of intoxication by ingestion of gasoline can range from vomiting, vertigo, drowsiness and confusion to loss of consciousness, convulsions, hemorrhaging of the lungs and internal organs, and death due to circulatory failure.
Assuming your bowel transit time is normal, a good rule of thumb is that gas results from food you ate six to eight hours prior – for this is the time it takes for a solid, mixed meal to travel from mouth to colon.
Diesel exhaust can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, and it can cause coughs, headaches, lightheadedness and nausea.