This is one of the consequences of the episode of fuel shortages which hit the country hard in October.
Faced with the shortages that affected service stations, many motorists engaged in a practice, that of siphoning fuel.
A method of emptying the tank of a car by absorbing the contents through the mouth using a hose.
The container obtained is then filled in another vehicle.
Faced with a
"risk of intoxication"
, ANSES is sounding the alarm in a press release on Friday evening.
In October, poison control centers recorded more than five times more poisonings than the number usually reported.
“By sucking into the pipe, you can ingest a small amount of fuel, which is enough to cause poisoning, regardless of the type of fuel,”
warns the public establishment.
Before specifying that many poisonings
“mainly took place between October 9 and 18, 2022, when up to a third of the service stations were out of fuel on the national territory.
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Read alsoFuel shortage: the practical silence of the government
ANSES also recalls that these products “
promote false routes
”, which can impact the bronchi.
And lead to fever or a prolonged cough for a few hours - potential warning signs of pneumonia.
“Intoxicated people also presented digestive symptoms such as gastric reflux, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, but also neurological signs such as headaches, drowsiness and dizziness”,
indicates the national agency for food, environmental and occupational health safety.
In case of indigestion, the latter recommends rinsing your mouth with water and monitoring the first symptoms.
But not to drink and not to make yourself vomit.
In the event of a life-threatening emergency, it is advisable to call the emergency services.