What is butane?

Butane is a hydrocarbon and a highly flammable, colourless, odourless, easily liquefied gas. It is used in the manufacture of a wide range of products and is also found in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

Butane is one of the commonly used propellants in household and industrial aerosols and therefore can be found in numerous aerosol products. The packaging of most aerosol products commonly identifies the propellant as ‘hydrocarbon’, not specifically butane.

Cause of death

Death from butane can occur from the direct toxic effects, cardiac effects (i.e. ventricular fibrillation, cardiac arrest), or central nervous system depression (e.g. respiratory depression).

Death can also be caused by the method of use. Spraying directly into the mouth can cause the larynx to go into spasm, blocking off the air supply to the lungs and causing suffocation. This is because when released, pressurised propellant gases are at an extremely low temperature.

High levels of use within a short period of time can lead to depressed breathing and loss of consciousness. In this state, a person using butane is at risk of choking if they vomit.

Other harms 

Other harms related to butane include injuries due to accidents or taking risks while intoxicated. There is also a risk of serious burn injury from fire or explosion as butane is highly flammable.

For information about how to reduce harms, see the Harms page of this website.