# How bad are Anti-freeze fumes for you?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-are-anti-freeze-fumes-for-you/149754
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 20, 2003, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-are-anti-freeze-fumes-for-you/149754 "2003-01-20T05:33:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@beajerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beajerry)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2003, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-are-anti-freeze-fumes-for-you/149754/1 "2003-01-20T05:33:25Z")
I have a small leak in my heater core, but a radiator leak solution has managed to stop it, I think.
Nonetheless, I’ve been breathing sweet antifreeze fumes for the past few months.
How bad is that? Is it worse than the acid I dropped back in high school?
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### Author:  [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2003, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-are-anti-freeze-fumes-for-you/149754/2 "2003-01-20T06:06:07Z")
Ethylene glycol fumes are not as bad or you as acid fumes. Prolonged breathing can cause dizzy spells. Here’s the [material safety data sheet](http://www.americhemsales.com/MSDS%20HTMLS/7000f1ll.htm). It lists all the known health effect. If I were you, I wouldn’t get too worked up over this.
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### Author:  [@FyreFiend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FyreFiend)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2003, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-are-anti-freeze-fumes-for-you/149754/3 "2003-01-20T06:16:33Z")
Hmmm…
It could just be me but I think dizzy spells while driving are pretty bad
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### Author:  [@beajerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beajerry)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-are-anti-freeze-fumes-for-you/149754/4 "2003-01-20T18:31:13Z")
They sound pretty bad to me.
Perhaps that’s why I have a persistent cough.
Oh, I’m doomed…