Health Effects of Hydrogen Sulphide: Knowledge Gaps

Description

Exposure to H2S and its consequent health effects continues to be of great concern to many Albertans. A mandate from the Clean Air Strategic Alliance (CASA) in June 1998 stated that the health effects of H2S was a priority, and that the Alberta Council for Research on Air and Health (ACRAH) was to develop a research plan for H2S research. One of the directives to ACRAH was to identify knowledge gaps for H2S toxicity. This report addresses knowledge gaps regarding the health effects of H2S. Although this report is focused on H2S, it was regarded necessary to include some references to “mixtures” such as sour gas, sewer and landfill gas, and pulp and paper emissions since these discharges contain H2S. Reports including scientific and medical literature regarding health effects of H2S published between 1990 and 2001, hereafter referred to as 'the past decade', were located. The studies are organized alphabetically by organ system affected, listed chronologically with the most recent first and summarized in tables for brevity and clarity. The studies are also broadly grouped into human, animal and in vitro studies. In addition to the scientific literature, other sources of information including media reports, documented personal accounts, reports from other institutions, medical, agricultural, veterinary facilities, research boards, and workers’ compensation boards were examined if available.

Keywords

h2s, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen sulphide

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