What is hydrogen sufide?
Hydrogen sulfide is a highly toxic, colorless gas with a rotten-egg odor. It is produced naturally by decaying organic matter and is released from sewage sludge, liquid manure, sulfur hot springs, and natural gas. It is used in several industries and is a by-product of many industrial processes such as oil refining, mining, and rayon manufacturing.
What immediate health effects can be caused by hydrogen sulfide exposure?
Even in small amounts, hydrogen sulfide has a strong rotten-egg odor. However, with continued exposure and at high levels, the poison may deaden a person's sense of smell. If the rotten egg odor is no longer noticeable, it may not necessarily mean that exposure has stopped. After a serious exposure, symptoms usually begin immediately. At low levels, hydrogen sulfide causes irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Moderate levels can cause headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, as well as coughing and difficulty in breathing. Higher levels can cause shock, convulsions, coma, and death. Generally, the more serious the exposure, the more severe the symptoms.
Can hydrogen sulfide poisoning be treated?
There is no proven antidote for hydrogen sulfide poisoning, but the effects of hydrogen sulfide can be treated and most exposed persons get well. Persons who have had serious exposures may need to be hospitalized.
Are any future health effects likely to occur?
A single small exposure from which a person recovers quickly is not likely to cause delayed or long-term effects. A serious exposure that causes coma or convulsions may damage the brain and heart.
What tests can be done if a person has been exposed to hydrogen sulfide?
Specific tests for the presence of hydrogen sulfide in blood and urine generally are not useful to the doctor. If a severe exposure has occurred, blood and urine analyses and other tests may show whether the brain, nerves, heart, or kidneys have been injured. If hydrogen sulfide was inhaled, blood tests and a chest X-ray may be necessary to determine if the lungs have been injured. Testing is not needed in every case.
Where can more information about hydrogen sulfide be found?
More information about hydrogen sulfide can be obtained from your regional poison control center; your state, county, or local health department; the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR); your doctor; or a clinic in your area that specializes in occupational and environmental health. If the exposure happened at work, you may wish to discuss it with your employer, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Visit our Regulatory Agencies page to find contact information for the aforementioned government agencies.
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