H2S Awareness

What Is Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) H2S is naturally occurring chemical produced by bacteria as it decomposes organic material. Raw sewage Crude oil Marine sediments Tanneries Pulp and paper industry It may develop in low oxygen environments, such as, sewers, swamps and polluted water.

What Is Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Rotten egg gas Stink gas Sour gas Sulfureted Hydrogen gas Sewer gas Devil’s breath H2S is also known as rotten egg gas, stink gas, sour gas, sulfureted hydrogen gas, sewer gas, devil’s breath

Properties and Characteristics Extremely Toxic: Six times more deadly than carbon monoxide, second only to hydrogen cyanide used in death chambers. Skin Irritation: Not absorbed by skin but forms a sulfuric acid solution when combined with moisture such as perspiration. Eye Irritation: causes severe pain. Heavier than Air: Unless dispersed by wind, H2S will settle in low lying areas such as pits, cellars, ravines, or enclosures.

Properties and Characteristics Highly Flammable: Does not require a spark to ignite! Any heated surface of at least 500 Fahrenheit can cause ignition. Burns with a Blue Flame: When burning, H2S will produce sulfur dioxide which is also extremely toxic and has a pungent smell. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)is easily disbursed by the wind. Sulfur Dioxide Short-term exposure to high levels of sulfur dioxide in the air can be life-threatening by causing breathing difficulties and obstructing airways, especially for people with lung disease. Breathing sulfur dioxide can irritate the nose, throat, and lungs, and cause coughing and shortness of breath. Short-term exposure to sulfur dioxide can cause stomach pain, menstrual disorders, watery eyes, inhibition of thyroid function, loss of smell, headache, nausea, vomiting, fever, convulsions, and dizziness Adults and children with asthma are sensitive to sulfur dioxide exposure, especially if they are active outdoors. Other people who are sensitive to sulfur dioxide are children, adults, and the elderly who have heart or lung disease

SO2 Sulfur Dioxide Produces Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)also toxic, colorless, smells like burned match, very offensive to respiratory system and eyes. You may feel SO2on your skin if your skin is wet. Sulfur dioxide-SO2is acid gas and can cause chemical pneumonia and scarring of the lungs. SO2is heavier that air and twice as heavy as H2S. SO2is not flammable and will not burn because it is a by-product of the incomplete combustion of H2S.

Properties and Characteristics Colorless: Not visible in air. Odor: Smells like rotten eggs at lower concentrations. Higher concentrations will deaden sense of smell

Concentration Levels & Effects Health Effects 10 ppm Beginning eye irritation 50-100 ppm Slight respiratory tract irritation after 1 hour exposure. 100 ppm Coughing, eye irritation, loss of sense of smell after 2-15 minutes. Altered respiration, pain in the eyes, and drowsiness after 15-30 minutes followed by throat irritation after 1 hour. Several hours exposure results in gradual increase in severity of these symptoms and death may occur within the next 48 hours 200-300 ppm Severe respiratory tract irritation after 1 hour of exposure. Possible pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs). 500-700 ppm Loss of consciousness and possibly death in 30 minutes to 1 hour. 700-1,000 ppm Rapid unconsciousness, loss of respiration, and death after 1-3 minutes. 1,000-2,000ppm Unconsciousness at once, loss of respiration and death in a few minutes. Death may occur even if individual is removed to fresh air at once.

Symptoms of Exposure Eye irritation Fatigue Throat irritation Skin irritation Headache Nausea Dizziness Loss of consciousness Vomiting Irrational behavior Coughing Excitement

Toxicity H2S is highly toxic. This gas will kill you!!! It will suffocate you by attaching itself to the red blood cells in your bloodstream and prevent them from carrying oxygen to the tissues and organs of the body. As the toxic gas builds up in your bloodstream, you will find yourself breathing faster and faster. The faster you breathe, the more H2S enters your lungs. It will paralyze the respiratory control center in your brain. You will cease to breathe and cardiac arrest may follow. Depending on the concentration of the gas, this can happen in as fast as 3 minutes or less. Alcohol or drugs can enhance or quicken this process.

Hazard Awareness

Hazard Classifications No Hazard Condition Any well that will not penetrate a known Hydrogen Sulfide formation Condition I - Low Hazard Work locations where atmospheric concentrations of H2S are less than 10ppm Hydrogen Sulfide warning sign with green flag warning device present. Condition II - Medium Hazard Work locations where atmospheric concentrations of H2S are greater than 10ppm and less than 30ppm. Legible Hydrogen Sulfide warning sign with yellow flag warning device present Condition III - High Hazard Work locations where atmospheric concentrations of H2S are greater than 30ppm. Legible Hydrogen Sulfide warning sign with red flag warning device and signs posted 500 feet from the location on each road leading to the location.

GO CROSSWIND AND UPWIND! WHICH WAY TO GO? WIND DIRECTION SOURCE OF H2S CONCENTRATION DECREASES FROM CENTER CONCENTRATION DECREASES AWAY FROM SOURCE GO CROSSWIND AND UPWIND!

Rescue Rescue requires rescue training and practice drills. NEVER attempt a rescue you are not properly trained for. Move victim upwind or crosswind away from H2S. Initiate rescue breathing if breathing has stopped. If you are trained to do so, you may use a resuscitator. After victim has received treatment, seek medical attention.

Summary H2S is highly toxic Do not depend on smell Look for signs and/or flags Always try to stay upwind of the H2S source. If trapped downwind: move crosswind then upwind to rescue yourself Never attempt a rescue