RV blogs, social media groups and YouTube videos have exploded over the past few years. Some provide great information, others questionable information and some downright bad information. Can you tell the difference? In this regular column, we will post a question based on information we find online. You can then test your RV prowess by seeing how your answer compares with our experts.
Today’s Question:
Is the following statement fact or fiction? Propane is toxic.
What do you think?
Click here to view the answer.
##RVT1131
I knew I should have looked up the definition of toxic..
Does the word “KABOOM” make it toxic? From a Plumbing & Heating professional.
Yes, propane is very toxic. It displaces oxygen, and the Ethyl Mercaptan, which is put into propane to alert to
leaks in the system, is also toxic.
Dale,
Water also displaces oxygen in the lungs (drowning), but it is not considered toxic. However, you and other alert readers questioned the addition of Mercaptan to propane as an odorant for safety. I went back and looked at the studies I referenced to see if they used propane with Mercaptan added or not. They didn’t say, but I did find studies that state such small amounts of Mercaptan are added that it isn’t considered harmful.
We!!, You can’t eat it or drink it because in storage it’s a liquid under pressure and no pressure its a gas. If you were to attach a mask to the tank it would flood your lungs with gas and displace oxygen. Dead. You cant take a spoonfull of gas and eat it. Again, gas = gone.
Conclusion Definition= toxic deadly.
Thomas – Agreed, but by that example water would also be considered toxic!