 [ Symptoms ] i was smelling a 100 polyester backpack to see if it needed to be washed i got a headache can this cause brain damage  i am known to be a hypochondriac can catching a few whiffs of this 100 polyester cause any short term long term brain damage or am i worrying about nothing [ Disease ] it would not be likely to get brain damage from smelling a polyester backpack although i have encountered some deadly tennis shoes from time to time you are safe