Which fumes do you think are worse for us, the fumes from leaded race gas, methanol or ethanol E85???

Good question.
Gut instinct tells me leaded gasoline, but that Methanol and E-85 stuff sure irritates me more.

I can't get take a lot of race gas after breathing in too much of it in the early 90s during some testing.
The symptoms mimicked monoxide poisoning in addition to arthritic pain.
Once I realized where it was coming from it took a year to shake it off. So, I hold race gas at arm's length or more.

On the other hand Alcohol and nitro...no problem. Go figure.

Methanol fumes don't bother people as bad because you can't stay in them long enough. LOL It's like going through the tear gas building in the military.

When I first switched the s10 over to alcohol the fumes were so bad I couldn't wait to get the door open at the end of the track. The headers are right under the floor and the fumes came right in the cab. I welded some 90s on the end of the collectors aimed down and that helped a bunch

I forgot about that, in my door car I quit running in 2004 the alcohol fumes were terrible in that car until I put mufflers on it and ran them out in front of rear tires.

In my altereds and front engine dragster rarely ever had problem.

From what I've read burning methanol creates formic acid and formaldehyde.
one thing I notice when burning methanol instead of gas my clothes don't smell like fumes as much. If I burn gas the exhaust fumes tend to cling to clothes. I don't get methanol fumes in the car much, only on the return road if I do get them. I did seal up any seams trying to keep fumes out.

Q16

Contains : Isopentane; Tetraethyllead; 2,2,4-trimethylpentane; Paraffins (petroleum), normal C5-20;
Tert-butyl methyl ether
Hazard statements (GB CLP) : H225 - Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
H302 - Harmful if swallowed.
H304 - May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways.
H315 - Causes skin irritation.
H336 - May cause drowsiness or dizziness.
H371 - May cause damage to organs.
H410 - Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
Precautionary statements (GB CLP) : P210 - Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources.
No smoking.
P261 - Avoid breathing vapours.
P280 - Wear protective gloves, protective clothing, eye protection, face protection.
P301+P310 - IF SWALLOWED: Immediately call a POISON CENTER, a doctor.
P331 - Do NOT induce vomiting.
P330 - Rinse mouth.
P302+P352 - IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of soap and water.
P304+P340 - IF INHALED: Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing.
P308+P311 - IF exposed or concerned: Call a POISON CENTER, doctor.

quote:

Originally posted by CURTIS REED:
Methanol fumes don't bother people as bad because you can't stay in them long enough. LOL It's like going through the tear gas building in the military.

Now that is funny, Curtis. Anyone who has been there will understand.
I gotta say E85 exhaust is some downright smelly stuff. And it would seem to me that the Lead content in race gas would almost have to make it the worst, as far as possible health effects due to long term exposure.
When I first changed to alky the fumes were bad enough that I spent more than half a day sealing up every possible place I could find to keep the exhaust out of the car. Trunk, floor pan, door seals, firewall, etc. After that I never even smell it at all unless I have a tail wind when I roll down the driver window on the return road.

Something about the stink of the E-85 I really do not like. Alcohol is not too bad, Nitro is like tear gas and will burn your nose and water your eyes real quickly. Used to get a kick out of people at National events pack it around the trailer when John Force and them warm up motor and then watch them retreat when the fumes hit them.