# Inhaling gasses from a butane lighter.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inhaling-gasses-from-a-butane-lighter/190231
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [July 22, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inhaling-gasses-from-a-butane-lighter/190231 "2003-07-22T20:42:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@SkyBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkyBum)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inhaling-gasses-from-a-butane-lighter/190231/1 "2003-07-22T20:42:23Z")
I have often read reports detailing the various dangers of smoking pot.
What worries me beyond the usual concerns cited in these reports are the possible effects of inhaling burnt butane gasses from the lighter used to ignite the pot. One could assume that these gasses would not be particularly healthy.
Are any of you dopers aware of any research on this subject? If these studies have not been conducted, why not?
Thanks.
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2003, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inhaling-gasses-from-a-butane-lighter/190231/2 "2003-07-22T20:47:56Z")
Once the flame is ignited, very little of any of the gas escapes combustion. So, no, I don’t think inhaling much butane is one of the risks of marijuana use.
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### Author:  [@SkyBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkyBum)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inhaling-gasses-from-a-butane-lighter/190231/3 "2003-07-22T21:15:02Z")
I suppose my assumption was that there would be some byproducts produced during combustion of the butane.
Thanks for your input Q.E.D.
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2003, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inhaling-gasses-from-a-butane-lighter/190231/4 "2003-07-22T21:26:28Z")
Butane is pretty clean-burning stuff. Most of the byproducts are CO[sub]2[/sub] and water.
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### Author:  [@syjstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syjstr)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2003, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inhaling-gasses-from-a-butane-lighter/190231/5 "2003-07-22T22:23:17Z")
It’s not so much the actual burnt butane that is dangerous, I would think the effects of the butane when the lighter goes out half way through your hit and the at that time you inadvertantly inhale some fumes, is what may be dangerous to you! any suggestions?
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### Author:  [@syjstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syjstr)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2003, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inhaling-gasses-from-a-butane-lighter/190231/6 "2003-07-22T22:25:48Z")
I would also like to point out that prolonged usage of this type of inhalation ove rmany years would have some sort of negative affect on your system do you think??
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2003, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inhaling-gasses-from-a-butane-lighter/190231/7 "2003-07-22T22:38:05Z")
I think you’ll suffer far more ill efects from the _ahem_ primary combustive than from butane or butane byproducts.
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### Author:  [@Bret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bret)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inhaling-gasses-from-a-butane-lighter/190231/8 "2003-07-22T23:37:04Z")
Unfortunately, I think the pot has already done enough damage to you for you to consider this question. Too bad you did not think of a similar question regarding the pot before you starting smoking it.
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### Author:  [@Coffeeguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coffeeguy)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inhaling-gasses-from-a-butane-lighter/190231/9 "2003-07-22T23:40:32Z")
Play nicely now.
–CoffeeGuy
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### Author:  [@SkyBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkyBum)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2003, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inhaling-gasses-from-a-butane-lighter/190231/10 "2003-07-22T23:49:08Z")
For what its worth Brett, I dont smoke pot, and you are dangerously close to sounding like an asshole.
I suppose I will let it slide since you are from Texas and from my experience that is somewhat to be expected.
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### Author:  [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)
#### Post date: [July 23, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inhaling-gasses-from-a-butane-lighter/190231/11 "2003-07-23T00:04:11Z")
**Bret** and **SkyBum** , your comments are out of line for this forum.
Next time, **SkyBum** , email a mod if you see such comments in a thread, instead of retaliating. **Bret** , personal accusations are prohibited in GQ.
If you can’t be civil, you can’t have a discussion here. This thread is closed.
- **xash**
General Questions Moderator