Is Butane Toxic?
NIOSH describes n-butane as a colorless gas with a gasoline-like or natural gas odor that is shipped as a liquefied compressed gas and is a liquid below 31°F. It lists inhalation and skin or eye contact with the liquid as exposure routes, drowsiness, narcosis and asphyxia as symptoms, frostbite from the liquid, and the central nervous system as the target organ. NIOSH says the most common odorant for propane and n-butane is ethyl mercaptan.
NIOSH's exposure profile for butane notes that other studies found butane is a cardiac sensitizer and can cause effects such as decreased cardiac output, though NIOSH did not use those studies to derive its exposure value because of limited details and exposure under anesthesia.
It is common at home. New Jersey's Department of Health says liquefied petroleum gas, primarily propane and butane, is used in cigarette lighters, for heating and as an aerosol propellant, and the EPA says propane and butane are propellants in aerosol shaving creams, deodorants, cosmetics and other personal care products. New Jersey says high concentrations of butane can cause headache, lightheadedness, drowsiness and passing out from lack of oxygen, and NIOSH's first aid for breathing large amounts of such a chemical is to move the person to fresh air at once, perform artificial respiration if breathing has stopped, keep them warm and at rest, and get medical attention as soon as possible.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- Government sourceNIOSH describes n-butane as a colorless gas with a gasoline-like or natural gas odor, shipped as a liquefied compressed gas and a liquid below 31°F. NIOSH, CDC ↗
- Government sourceNIOSH lists butane exposure routes as inhalation and skin or eye contact with the liquid, symptoms as drowsiness, narcosis and asphyxia, frostbite from the liquid, and the central nervous system as the target organ. NIOSH, CDC ↗
- StudyNIOSH's butane exposure profile notes other studies found butane is a cardiac sensitizer that can decrease cardiac output, but it did not use them to derive its value because of limited details and exposure under anesthesia. NIOSH, CDC ↗
- Government sourceNew Jersey's Department of Health says liquefied petroleum gas is primarily propane and butane and is used in cigarette lighters, for heating and as an aerosol propellant. New Jersey Department of Health ↗
- Government sourceThe EPA says propane and butane are used as propellants for aerosol shaving creams, skin fresheners, makeup, deodorants, cosmetics and personal hygiene products. US EPA ↗
- Government sourceNew Jersey's Department of Health says exposure to high concentrations of butane can cause headache, lightheadedness, drowsiness and passing out from lack of oxygen. New Jersey Department of Health ↗
- Government sourceNIOSH says a person who breathes large amounts of a chemical assigned respiratory support, such as n-butane, should be moved to fresh air at once, kept warm and at rest, and given medical attention as soon as possible. NIOSH, CDC ↗
- Government sourceNIOSH says the two most common gas odorants are methyl mercaptan, for natural gas, and ethyl mercaptan, for propane and n-butane. NIOSH, CDC ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.