This is from Michael Lufaso, PhD former 1/12 racer and Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of North Florida

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http://home.sc.rr.com/mlufaso/rc/Paragon.html

All things are poison and nothing is without poison. It is the dose that makes a thing poisonous.

Paracelsus
16th century pharmacologist


I would like to clear up some, in my opinion, misconceptions about the safety of the chemicals found in tire traction compounds, most notably Paragon Ground Effects.
One of the chemical components of Paragon Ground Effects traction compound is methyl salicylate. A major chemical component found in motor sprays is hexanes. I have listed a link to the MSDS at Cornell and extracted health information from the MSDS for these two chemical compounds. At the bottom if this document I list a common household chemical found in nail polish removers for comparison.
Methyl salicylate is also found in common items including muscle pain relief (e.g. Theragold, Icy Hot, Ben-Gay) and root beers (e.g. source 1 and source 2 and source 3).
Sometimes a chemical can have a strong smell, but be non-toxic. On the other hand, something that has no smell or smells sweet could be highly toxic. A racer's sense of smell is not a good indicator of the safety of a chemical. Going to an odorless traction compound should not be done for safety and health reasons, unless the safety of the alternative(s) is(are) known. In my humble opinion, it would be benificial for all manufacturers to be required to list the components in the tire traction compounds that are sold. Racers could ask each company to release the information as to what is in their products. If the company is unwilling to release the information regarding the contents, then the racer could contact the Consumer Product Safety Commision and find out their rights as to the knowledge of the chemicals that are sold in the traction compounds. I think we as racers would be much better off to have the companies voluntarily release the content information, rather than being in an outside government organization. I would be more than happy to list the MSDS sheets for each compound upon request. If tracks are going to outlaw certain traction compounds because of odor, then I would certainly want to know if the 'odorless' traction compound is going to be worse for my health.
The relative risks involved in skin and inhalation exposure to oil of wintergreen in Paragon Ground Effects, in my opinion, are low compared to exposure to the chemical compounds found in motor sprays. I have more concern for a racer's health and long term safety with the use of motor sprays, because it is more irritating to skin and overexposure will cause more damage. (It should be noted that hexanes are still relatively safe and better for the environment compared to 1,1,1,-trichloroethane used in the past.)
From a health point of view, I feel more comfortable using Paragon Ground Effects than other traction compounds with unknown ingredients that may be much more harmful to my health, but I don't know - without knowing the components.
If the racing companies are willing to list the components of traction compounds, I will list the MSDS sheets and share my opinion on the relative safety of the various brands. I believe that most of the ill health effects at tracks are related to the use of motor sprays rather than traction compounds.
Of course, at this point one should go to the top of this page and read the first two lines which has been known for 500 years - dose does matter. Both methyl salicylate and hexanes are relatively safe, but one should try to limit the exposure to each to reduce the ill effects.


methyl salicylate (synthetic oil of wintergreen)

Health Hazards Acute & Chronic: MAY BE IRRITATING TO SKIN/EYES.HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED.DRINKING RELATIVELY SMAL AMTS (10-30ML)HAS CAUSED POISONING & DEATH SIMILAR TO THAT SEEN IN ASPIRIN POISONING.

Signs & Symptoms of Overexposure:
TARGET ORGANS EFFECTS:REPEATED DAILY APPLICATION OF LG AMTS TO SKIN OF RABBITS HAS CAUSED KIDNEY DMG.EFFECTS IN HUMANS UNK.EXCESSIVE EXPO MAY RESULT IN SIMILAR EFFECTS.REPEATED DOSING ORALLY/DERMALLY OF LG AMTS TO RATS HAS CAUSED REPRODUCTIVE EFFECTS.EFFECTS IN HUMAN ARE UNK.EXCESSIVE EXPO MAY RESULT IN SIMILAR EFFECTS

Carcenogenicity Indicators
NTP: NO
IARC: NO
OSHA: NO

Hexanes
Health Hazards Acute & Chronic: INHALATION: HARMFUL. MAY CAUSE NERVOUS SYSTEM INJURY. SKIN: IRRITATION. HARMFUL IF ABSORBED. EYES: CAUSES IRRITATION. INGESTION: LOW ORAL TOXICITY.

Signs & Symptoms of Overexposure:
DIZZINESS, GIDDINESS, HEADACHE, NAUSEA, BLURRED VISION, LOSS OF APPETITE & WEIGHT, NUMBNESS, WEAKNESS OF ARMS & LEGS, IRRITATION


There is debate on the cancer causing (carcinogenic) ability of many chemicals.
Toxic List
Note that unleaded gasoline is a carcinogen (to the State of California).

How does the MSDS compare to other household and racing chemicals?
Nail Polish Components (butyl acetate, ethyl acetate) and Nitromethane

Ethyl acetate
Health Hazards Acute & Chronic: ACUTE: VERY DANGEROUS IN CASE OF INGESTION. SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS TO DANGEROUS IN CASE OF SKIN CONTACT (IRRITANT), OF EYE CONTACT (IRRITANT), OF INHALATION. VERY SLIGHTLY TO SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS IN CASE OF SKIN CONTACT (PERMEATOR). SEVERE OVER-EXPOSURE CAN RESULT IN DEATH. CAN BE FATAL IF INHALED OR INGESTED. THIS PRODUCT MAY IRRITATE EYES AND SKIN UPON CONTACT. CHRONIC: THE SUBSTANCE IS TOXIC TO LUNG S, MUCOUS MEMBRANES. REPEATED OR PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THE SUBSTANCE CAN PRODUCE TARGET ORGANS DAMAGE. REPEATED EXPOSURE TO A HIGHLY TOXIC MATERIAL MAY PRODUCE GENERAL DETERIORATION OF HEALTH BY AN AC CUMULATION IN ONE OR MANY HUMAN ORGANS.
...
State Regulatory Information:
ETHYL ACETATE IS LISTED BY THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS AND THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. WARNING: THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS A CHEMICAL KNOWN TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO CAUSE CANCER. WARNING: THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS A CHEMICAL KNOWN TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS OR OTHER REPRODUCTIVE HARM.

Butyl acetate
Health Hazards Acute & Chronic: INHAL:IRRITATION OF MUCOUS MEMBRANES, HEADACHE, NAUSEA, VOMITING, DIZZINESS, DROWSINESS, IRRITATION OF UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT, UNCONSCIOUSNESS, MAY CAUSE NARCOSIS. SKIN:IRRITATION, PROLONGED CONTACT MAY CAUSE DERMATITIS. EYE:IRRITATION, MAY CAUSE TEMPORARY CORNEAL DAMAGE. INGEST:HEADACHE, NAUSEA, (EFTS OF OVEREXP)

Signs & Symptoms of Overexposure:
HLTH HAZ:VOMITING, DIZZINESS, GASTROINTESTINAL IRRITATION, CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSION. TARGET ORGANS:EYES, SKIN, RESPIRATORY SYSTEM, CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, MUCOUS MEMBRANES. CHRONIC:NONE IDENTIFIED.

Nitromethane
Health Hazards Acute & Chronic: ACUTE: HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED, INHALED/ABSORBED THRU SKIN. CAUSES EYE & SKIN IRRIT. VAP/MIST IS IRRIT TO EYES, MUC MEMB & UPPER RESP TRACT. ABSORPTION INTO BODY LEADS TO FORM OF METHEMOGLOBIN WHICH, IN SUFFICIENT CONC, CAUSES CYANOSIS. ONSETMAY BE DELAYED 2-4 HRS/LONGER. TARGET ORGANS: LIVER, KIDNEYS, (EFTS OF OVEREXP)

Signs & Symptoms of Overexposure:
HLTH HAZ: CNS. TARGET ORGAN DATA: BEHAVIORAL (SOMNOLENCE, ATAXIA); LUNGS, THORAX/RESP (RESP DEPRESS, RESP STIMULATION); LIVER (HEPATITIS: HEPATOCELLULAR NECROSIS, ZONAL); KIDNEY, URETER, BLADDER (CHAN GES IN BOTH TUBULES & GLOMERULI).

The views on this page are only those of Dr. Michael Lufaso. I'm not a medical Dr., nor do I practice medicine, but I have a Ph. D. in chemistry. They do not necessarily represent those of any of my past or present employers. Any use of information contained in this webpage is at the reader's own risk. I recommend that you limit your exposure to all chemicals and solvents in racing, but keep in mind that many of your household chemicals are more dangerous to your health."

Also: http://www.rctech.net/forum/2286322-post215.html