• Question: What is in glue that makes it dangerous to smell???

    Asked by ciaracarroll to Shane on 18 Nov 2012.
    • Photo: Shane Bergin

      Shane Bergin answered on 18 Nov 2012:

      I’m not 100% sure. I think it might be the solvent in the glue – nasty chemicals like toluene and xylene (they are also in markers). The solvent is there in first place to make the glue liquid (so you can apply it). the solvent has to then evaporate at room temperature leaving the glue to ‘set’. Unfortunately, there are health affects from inhaling the solvent fumes.

      If someone were to inhale the fumes, the most likely affect is hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) – this can have a particularly nasty affect on the brain (as well as other major organs)

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