lighter fluids vary, mainly being a combo of liquid paraffin and naphtha, which can be an isoparaffinic hydrocarbon, so there are family resemblances between the two, and their grandparent's petroleum products outa dinosaur digs. we're talking about charcoal/ firestarter fluids like Kingsford and Wizard, and hand "cigarette" lighter fluids like Zippo, Ronsonol, and probably Bic, but not butane or propane. . . and Fire-Up II firestarter is based on gelled alcohol, which is totally different!

so Kingsford here is 100% hydrotreated heavy naphtha, similar to Coleman Fuel, while Zippo's says its two naphtha blends (19% and 81%) each contain a lot of other chemicals. from our SAFETY page's left sidebar, you can look at MSDS's for kerosene, which Eric Bagai of New Zealand's Beaming Balls Limited says is called paraffin outside the U.S., and MSDS's for lamp oil and Coleman Fuel (100% naphtha), too.

MSDS's (Material Safety Data Sheets) may change when chemical formula changes, check the manufacturer for the latest, though in practice, they change very little for well-known compounds. here are samples as of August 2002:

first, (1) Kingsford, at www.kingsford.com [whose parent company is Clorox at www.clorox.com] produces its Charcoal Starter, which probably is da secret marinade in their Match Light and BBQ Bag charcoal briquets. then scroll to (2) Zippo for its famous "cigarette" lighter fluid. so here's

(1) (Clorox) Kingsford MSDS: (Odorless) Charcoal Lighter

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES MSDS FILE
CLOROX -- KINGSFORD ODORLESS CHARCOAL LIGHTER
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET
FSC: 9110
NIIN: 00N017391
Manufacturer's CAGE: 93098
Part No. Indicator: A
Part Number/Trade Name: KINGSFORD ODORLESS CHARCOAL LIGHTER
========================================
General Information
========================================
Company's Name: CLOROX COMPANY
Company's Street: 7200 JOHNSON DR
Company's City: PLEASANTON
Company's State: CA
Company's Country: US
Company's Zip Code: 94566
Company's Emerg Ph #: 415-847-6100
Company's Info Ph #: 415-847-6100
Record No. For Safety Entry: 001
Tot Safety Entries This Stk#: 001
Status: SMJ
Date MSDS Prepared: 01AUG89
Safety Data Review Date: 18MAY95
MSDS Serial Number: BKQSK
Hazard Characteristic Code: F4
========================================
Ingredients/Identity Information
========================================
Proprietary: NO
Ingredient: HYDROTREATED HEAVY NAPHTHA (ISOPARAFFINIC HYDROCARBONS)
Ingredient Sequence Number: 01
Percent: 100
NIOSH (RTECS) Number: 1002859HN
CAS Number: 64742-48-9
OSHA PEL: 50 PPM (MFR)
ACGIH TLV: 300 PPM (MFR)
========================================
Physical/Chemical Characteristics
========================================
Appearance And Odor: NONE SPECIFIED BY MANUFACTURER.
Boiling Point: 345F,174C
Vapor Density (Air=1): >5
Specific Gravity: 0.76
========================================
Fire and Explosion Hazard Data
========================================
> Flash Point: 120F,49C
Lower Explosive Limit: 0.7%
Upper Explosive Limit: 7%
Extinguishing Media: USE FOAM, WATER SPRAY (FOG), DRY CHEMICAL, CO*2 OR
VAPORIZING LIQ TYPE EXTING AGENTS TO FIGHT FIRES. TYPE OF (SUPP DATA)
Special Fire Fighting Proc: WEAR NIOSH/MSHA APPROVED SCBA & FULL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (FP N).
Unusual Fire And Expl Hazrds: COMBUSTIBLE. SERIOUS FIRE AND EXPLOSION
HAZARD. AVOID ALL OPEN FLAMES AND ELIMINATE ALL IGNITION SOURCES.
========================================
Reactivity Data
========================================
Stability: YES
Cond To Avoid (Stability): NONE SPECIFIED BY MANUFACTURER.
Materials To Avoid: STRONG OXIDANTS SUCH AS LIQUID CHLORINE, CONCENTRATED
OXYGEN AND SODIUM OR CALCIUM HYPOCHLORITE.
Hazardous Decomp Products: NONE SPECIFIED BY MANUFACTURER.
Conditions To Avoid (Poly): NONE SPECIFIED BY MANUFACTURER.
========================================
Health Hazard Data
========================================
LD50-LC50 Mixture: NONE SPECIFIED BY MANUFACTURER.
Route Of Entry - Inhalation: YES
Route Of Entry - Skin: YES
Route Of Entry - Ingestion: YES
Health Haz Acute And Chronic: EYE, SKIN & RESPIRATORY TRACT IRRITANT.
RPTD/PRLNGD EXPOSURE TO CONCS ABOVE WORKER EXPOSURE LIMIT MAY CAUSE
DIZZINESS, HEADACHE, UNCONSCIOUSNESS & CONVULSIONS. LOW ORDER OF ACUTE ORAL
TOXICITY BUT SMALL AMTS ASPIRATED INTO LUNGS DURING INGESTION MAY CAUSE
SEVERE PULMONARY INJURY OR DEATH. ANIMAL (SEE EFTS OF OVEREXP)
Carcinogenicity - NTP: NO
Carcinogenicity - IARC: NO
Carcinogenicity - OSHA: NO
Explanation Carcinogenicity: NOT RELEVANT
Signs/Symptoms Of Overexp: HLTH HAZ:STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT LIGHT
HYDROCARBONS SIMILAR TO THIS PRODUCT HAVE CAUSED ADVERSE KIDNEY EFFECTS TO
MALE RATS AFTER PRLNGD/RPTD INHALATION EXPOSURE. REPORTS HAVE ASSOCIATED
RPTD/PRLNGD OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO SOLVENTS W/PERMANENT BRAIN & NERVOUS
SYSTEM DAMAGE.
Med Cond Aggravated By Exp: NONE SPECIFIED BY MANUFACTURER.
Emergency/First Aid Proc: INGEST:DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. CALL MD
IMMEDIATELY. INHAL:REMOVE FROM EXPOS. IF BREATHING PROBLEMS DEVELOP, CALL
MD IMMEDIATELY. EYE:FLUSH W/WATER FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES. IF PAIN OR
IRRITATION PERSISTS, SEE MD. SKIN:REMOVE CONTAMINATED CLOTHING & WASH W/
SOAP & WATER.
========================================
Precautions for Safe Handling and Use
========================================
Steps If Matl Released/Spill: AVOID ALL OPEN FLAMES & ELIMINATE ALL
IGNITION SOURCES. MINIMIZE BREATHING VAPORS & CONTACT W/SKIN. OPEN ALL
WINDOWS & DOORS. KEEP PRODUCT OUT OF SEWERS. ABSORB SPILL W/INERT MATERIAL.
SCOOP UP & DISPOSE OF I/A/W FEDERAL, STATE & LOCAL REGULATIONS.
Neutralizing Agent: NONE SPECIFIED BY MANUFACTURER.
Waste Disposal Method: DISPOSE OF I/A/W FEDERAL, STATE & LOCAL REGULATIONS
(FP N).
Precautions-Handling/Storing: KEEP CONTAINER CLOSED WHEN NOT IN USE. DO
NOT STORE NEAR HEAT, SPARKS, FLAME OR STRONG OXIDANTS.
Other Precautions: DO NOT SMOKE WHILE USING THIS PRODUCT. AVOID SKIN AND
EYE CONTACT AND INHALATION OF VAPORS.
========================================
Control Measures
========================================
Respiratory Protection: WEAR NIOSH/MSHA APPROVED VAPOR RESPIRATOR.
Ventilation: USE GENERAL VENTILATION TO MINIMIZE EXPOSURE TO VAPORS.
Protective Gloves: IMPERVIOUS GLOVES (FP N).
Eye Protection: CHEMICAL WORKERS GOGGLES (FP N).
Other Protective Equipment: EYEWASH AND DELUGE SHOWER (FP N).
Work Hygienic Practices: NONE SPECIFIED BY MANUFACTURER.
Suppl. Safety & Health Data: EXTING MEDIA:EXTINGUISHING AGENT IS DEPENDENT
UPON SIZE OF FIRE & CIRCUMSTANCES RELATED TO SITUATION.
========================================
Transportation Data
========================================
Trans Data Review Date: 91274
DOT PSN Code: GJL
DOT Proper Shipping Name: FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS, N.O.S.
DOT Class: 3
DOT ID Number: UN1993
DOT Pack Group: III
DOT Label: FLAMMABLE LIQUID
IMO PSN Code: HIA
IMO Proper Shipping Name: FLAMMABLE LIQUID, N.O.S. *
IMO Regulations Page Number: 3345
IMO UN Number: 1993
IMO UN Class: 3.3
IATA PSN Code: MCA
IATA UN ID Number: 1993
IATA Proper Shipping Name: FLAMMABLE LIQUID, N.O.S. * *
IATA UN Class: 3
IATA Label: FLAMMABLE LIQUID
AFI PSN Code: MCA
AFI Prop. Shipping Name: FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS, N.O.S. *
AFI Class: 3
AFI ID Number: UN1993
AFI Pack Group: III
AFI Label: FLAMMABLE LIQUID
AFI Basic Pac Ref: 7-7
========================================
Disposal Data
========================================
========================================
Label Data
========================================
Label Required: YES
Technical Review Date: 20AUG91
Label Status: G
Chronic Hazard: YES
Signal Word: WARNING!
Acute Health Hazard-Moderate: X
Contact Hazard-Moderate: X
Fire Hazard-Moderate: X
Reactivity Hazard-None: X
Special Hazard Precautions: ACUTE:CAUSES EYE, SKIN, AND RESPIRATORY TRACT
IRRITATION. AVOID CONTACT WITH EYES, SKIN, AND CLOTHING. WASH THOROUGHLY
AFTER HANDLING. AVOID BREATHING VAPOR OR MIST. USE WITH ADEQUATE
VENTILATION. FLAMMABLE LIQUID. KEEP AWAY FROM HEAT, SPARKS, AND FLAME. KEEP
CONTAINER CLOSED. CHRONIC: MAY CAUSE ADVERSE KIDNEY EFFECTS BASED ON ANIMAL
STUDIES. REPORTS HAVE ASSOCIATED REPEATED/PROLONGED OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
TO SOLVENTS WITH PERMANENT BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM DAMAGE. TARGET
ORGANS:BRAIN, CNS, AND KIDNEYS.
Protect Eye: Y
Protect Skin: Y
Protect Respiratory: Y
Label Name: CLOROX COMPANY
Label Street: 7200 JOHNSON DR
Label City: PLEASANTON
Label State: CA
Label Zip Code: 94566
Label Country: US
Label Emergency Number: 415-847-6100
========================================
URL for this msds http://hazard.com. If you wish to change, add to, or
delete information in this archive please sent updates to dan@hazard.com.

second, Zippo at www.zippo.com offers an MSDS on its standard lighter fluid for "cigarette" lighters (not butane or propane), but not on its own website that we could find. in fact, there seems no safety information there at all.

it's an Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) file, so your browser requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader plugin to see this type of document. get the plugin free at the Adobe website which will open in a new window if you click it.

here's the MSDS itself:

to save a copy of this MSDS .pdf file to your disk, where you can read it with Adobe Acrobat Reader outside your browser, you can click on the link above with the right button of your mouse, choose Save as from the pop-up window, and put it in any filename and location on your disk.

got an MSDS to add to our common collection?

got any more MSDS for personal fave brands? click on "e-mail us" on the top menu and send 'em to us in text, word doc, or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) file with your recommendations!