# Is sniffing permanent markers dangerous?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sniffing-permanent-markers-dangerous/240330
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 16, 2004, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sniffing-permanent-markers-dangerous/240330 "2004-04-16T08:18:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Lithium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lithium)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2004, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sniffing-permanent-markers-dangerous/240330/1 "2004-04-16T08:18:56Z")
It most certainly gives a little ‘high’, but I heard it causes brain damage.
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### Author:  [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2004, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sniffing-permanent-markers-dangerous/240330/2 "2004-04-16T10:03:44Z")
If the permanent marker contains solvents such as toluene, xylene etc then brain damage can result from long term use. Some solvents contain water or ethanol as solvent, in which case little harm can come of it.
see [http://www.informinc.org/fact\_P3industrialmarkers.php](http://www.informinc.org/fact_P3industrialmarkers.php) for soem more information
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### Author:  [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2004, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sniffing-permanent-markers-dangerous/240330/3 "2004-04-16T10:04:57Z")
sorry - should be “some markers contain water or …”
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### Author:  [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sniffing-permanent-markers-dangerous/240330/4 "2004-04-16T16:08:53Z")
[Inhalants](http://www.mcmc.net/pdf/tyh0003.cfm)
> [@](#):
>
> The chemicals kids consume in inhaling are highly toxic or poisonous. These chemicals enter the lungs and then pass from the bloodstream into the brain, where they kill brain cells causing permanent brain damage. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the fumes a teen inhales are much greater than what is considered safe even in a workplace setting. Over time, inhalant use can cause other serious health problems, such as muscle spasms and permanent damage to the nervous system, liver, kidney and bone marrow. Sudden death can occur, even from first-time use, due to suffocation or a high concentration of fumes.