Introduction to hydrocarbon poisoning

Note: Urgently contact a clinical toxicologist or poisons information centre if hydrocarbon poisoning is suspected.

Hydrocarbons are organic compounds that cause toxicity after exposure by various routes, including:

ingestion—usually accidental exposure in children and adults, but can be deliberate self-poisoning in adults
inhalation—generally involves recreational use
injection—uncommon route of exposure that mainly involves occupational accidents, but can be deliberate self-poisoning.

Toxicity from hydrocarbons depends on the compound and route of exposure, but rapid onset of coma and seizures can occur with any compound, especially in children. Occasionally, arrhythmias and sudden death can be seen following acute inhalational exposure. Common hydrocarbons and their clinical effects are listed in Common hydrocarbons and clinical effects.

If hydrocarbon poisoning is suspected, urgently contact a clinical toxicologist or poisons information centre (13 11 26). Management of hydrocarbon poisoning is supportive, including airway protection in comatose patients and recognition of aspiration.

Specific management advice is given for poisonings due to the following hydrocarbons:

essential oils (eg camphor, citronella oil, clove oil, eucalyptus oil, pennyroyal oil, tea-tree oil, oil of wintergreen); see Essential oil poisoning
methylene chloride that is metabolised to carbon monoxide and causes carbon monoxide poisoning with cellular hypoxia; see Carbon monoxide poisoning
hydrocarbon solvents used in organophosphate insecticides; see Organophosphate and carbamate poisoning.

Table 1. Common hydrocarbons and clinical effects
[NB1]
Hydrocarbon group: aliphatic hydrocarbons aromatic hydrocarbons halogenated hydrocarbons alkane gases
Example compounds	Common clinical effects
aliphatic hydrocarbons
petrol, kerosene, naphtha, turpentine, motor oils, lamp oils essential oils (eg camphor, citronella oil, clove oil, eucalyptus oil, pennyroyal oil, tea-tree oil, oil of wintergreen)	gastric irritation, vomiting, diarrhoea, excoriation, burns acute liver injury (pennyroyal oil and clove oil) aspiration pneumonitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome hypotension euphoria, central nervous system depression ranging from drowsiness (low doses) to rapid-onset coma (high doses); essential oils pose a higher risk of coma and seizures in children
aromatic hydrocarbons
benzene, naphtha, naphthalene, toluene, xylene	euphoria, agitation, coma, seizures acute liver injury (benzene) aspiration pneumonitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome hypotension, cardiac arrhythmias, sudden death
halogenated hydrocarbons (contain halides like chloride or fluoride, and may be aliphatic or aromatic)
carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, methylene chloride	hypotension acute liver injury (carbon tetrachloride and chloroform) carbon monoxide poisoning and cellular hypoxia (methylene chloride)
alkane gases (short carbon chain flammable gases)
propane, butane	hypotension altered conscious state, coma, asphyxiation by oxygen displacement
Note: NB1: Exposure to hydrocarbon compounds can occur by various routes; see individual monographs on hydrocarbon ingestion, hydrocarbon inhalation and hydrocarbon injection.