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Battery fumes
I work in a warehouse where we have a "Picker Machine" for getting products off of high shelves (ie.furniture). The battery (5000Lbs 16 cell) that is in the unit has been leaking for several weeks and creating a sulphuric smell (like eggs) it is very strong. We don't use the unit it just sits in the corner. Our supervisor has told us numerous times that it is not harmful at all and it is just a bad smell. Is this correct and if it is harmful how do I got about rectifying this without reprisal?
Hi, Principally, sulfuric acid is used in lead acid batteries which have been commonly used in Fork-Lifts for stacking goods in ware houses. Essentially, if these batteries are leaking you need to contact your safety supervisor to know permissible exposure limit (1 mg/m³) of sulfuric acid fumes. Exposure to sulfuric acid aerosols at high concentrations is a potential occupational health hazard and may lead to immediate and severe irritation of the eyes, respiratory tract and mucous membranes and there is a risk of subsequent pulmonary edema if tissue damage has been more severe. However at lower concentrations, the most common symptom of chronic exposure to sulfuric acid aerosols could be erosion of the teeth and difficulty in breathing. I am not sure there is any hydrogen sulphide exposure linked to battery fumes. Thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello Blake -
This is some information that might be of help to you.
This information is from the state of New York, Department of Health.
Accessed 3/31/2010, http://www.health.state.ny.us/environmental/chemicals/hydrogen_sulfide/
"Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas with a rotten-egg odor. Some people can smell hydrogen sulfide at very low levels, as low as 0.5 parts per billion (ppb) in air. Most hydrogen sulfide in the air comes from natural sources. It is produced when bacteria break down plant and animal material, often in stagnant waters with low oxygen content such as bogs and swamps. Volcanoes, hot springs and underwater thermal vents also release hydrogen sulfide. Industrial sources of hydrogen sulfide include petroleum and natural gas extraction and refining, pulp and paper manufacturing, rayon textile production, chemical manufacturing and waste disposal. Some bacteria change calcium sulfate, the major component of wallboard, into hydrogen sulfide. If construction and demolition debris contain large quantities of wallboard, large amounts of hydrogen sulfide can be formed. Production is greatest when the wallboard is finely crushed and when there is little oxygen, such as when the debris is buried and soaked with water.
Most of the information on human health effects from hydrogen sulfide exposure comes from accidental and industrial exposures to high levels. Exposure to high levels can cause muscle cramps, low blood pressure, slow respiration and loss of consciousness. Short-term exposure to moderate amounts of hydrogen sulfide in the workplace produces eye, nose and throat irritation, nausea, dizziness, breathing difficulties, headaches and loss of appetite and sleep. Continued exposure can irritate the respiratory passages and can lead to a buildup of fluid in the lungs.
Human volunteers have been exposed to hydrogen sulfide for up to thirty minutes during moderate exercise at levels equal to or half the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 8-hour standard (10,000 ppb). Chemical changes in blood and muscle were observed, but no volunteer experienced adverse symptoms and no changes were seen in lung function measurements.
There is limited information on the effects of long-term exposure to low levels of hydrogen sulfide. People working in industries where hydrogen sulfide exposure is common, but is usually below the OSHA 8-hour standard (10,000 ppb), may have decreased lung function and increased risk of spontaneous abortion and impaired neurological functions (including reaction time, balance, color discrimination, short-term memory and mood) compared to unexposed workers. People living near industries that emit hydrogen sulfide have an increased risk of eye irritation, cough, headache, nasal blockage and impaired neurological function (same measures as above) compared to unexposed residents. Limited information is available about exposure levels in studies of people working in or living near industries emitting hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide exposure is assumed in these studies based on job title, work history or living near facilities emitting hydrogen sulfide. In all cases, the people with presumed hydrogen sulfide exposure had or likely had exposures to other chemicals that could have contributed to some health effects.
Foul odors and health effects were investigated in an Indiana community near a waste disposal lagoon and in five New York State communities near landfills containing construction and demolition debris. Hydrogen sulfide levels in the Indiana community ranged up to 300 ppb during a two-month period. Levels in two of the New York communities ranged up to 4000 ppb for periods of several months. During these episodes there were frequent health complaints including eye, throat and lung irritation, nausea, headache, nasal blockage, sleeping difficulties, weight loss, chest pain, and asthma attacks. Although other chemicals may have been present in the air, these effects are consistent with those of hydrogen sulfide.
The main effects of short-term and long-term hydrogen sulfide exposure in laboratory animals are nasal and lung irritation and damage and effects on the brain. These effects are consistent with effects seen in people exposed to hydrogen sulfide."
http://www.health.state.ny.us/environmental/chemicals/hydrogen_sulfide/docs/sulfide.pdf
~•~ Dr. Parks
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
This is some information that might be of help to you.
This information is from the state of New York, Department of Health.
Accessed 3/31/2010, http://www.health.state.ny.us/environmental/chemicals/hydrogen_sulfide/
"Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas with a rotten-egg odor. Some people can smell hydrogen sulfide at very low levels, as low as 0.5 parts per billion (ppb) in air. Most hydrogen sulfide in the air comes from natural sources. It is produced when bacteria break down plant and animal material, often in stagnant waters with low oxygen content such as bogs and swamps. Volcanoes, hot springs and underwater thermal vents also release hydrogen sulfide. Industrial sources of hydrogen sulfide include petroleum and natural gas extraction and refining, pulp and paper manufacturing, rayon textile production, chemical manufacturing and waste disposal. Some bacteria change calcium sulfate, the major component of wallboard, into hydrogen sulfide. If construction and demolition debris contain large quantities of wallboard, large amounts of hydrogen sulfide can be formed. Production is greatest when the wallboard is finely crushed and when there is little oxygen, such as when the debris is buried and soaked with water.
Most of the information on human health effects from hydrogen sulfide exposure comes from accidental and industrial exposures to high levels. Exposure to high levels can cause muscle cramps, low blood pressure, slow respiration and loss of consciousness. Short-term exposure to moderate amounts of hydrogen sulfide in the workplace produces eye, nose and throat irritation, nausea, dizziness, breathing difficulties, headaches and loss of appetite and sleep. Continued exposure can irritate the respiratory passages and can lead to a buildup of fluid in the lungs.
Human volunteers have been exposed to hydrogen sulfide for up to thirty minutes during moderate exercise at levels equal to or half the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 8-hour standard (10,000 ppb). Chemical changes in blood and muscle were observed, but no volunteer experienced adverse symptoms and no changes were seen in lung function measurements.
There is limited information on the effects of long-term exposure to low levels of hydrogen sulfide. People working in industries where hydrogen sulfide exposure is common, but is usually below the OSHA 8-hour standard (10,000 ppb), may have decreased lung function and increased risk of spontaneous abortion and impaired neurological functions (including reaction time, balance, color discrimination, short-term memory and mood) compared to unexposed workers. People living near industries that emit hydrogen sulfide have an increased risk of eye irritation, cough, headache, nasal blockage and impaired neurological function (same measures as above) compared to unexposed residents. Limited information is available about exposure levels in studies of people working in or living near industries emitting hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide exposure is assumed in these studies based on job title, work history or living near facilities emitting hydrogen sulfide. In all cases, the people with presumed hydrogen sulfide exposure had or likely had exposures to other chemicals that could have contributed to some health effects.
Foul odors and health effects were investigated in an Indiana community near a waste disposal lagoon and in five New York State communities near landfills containing construction and demolition debris. Hydrogen sulfide levels in the Indiana community ranged up to 300 ppb during a two-month period. Levels in two of the New York communities ranged up to 4000 ppb for periods of several months. During these episodes there were frequent health complaints including eye, throat and lung irritation, nausea, headache, nasal blockage, sleeping difficulties, weight loss, chest pain, and asthma attacks. Although other chemicals may have been present in the air, these effects are consistent with those of hydrogen sulfide.
The main effects of short-term and long-term hydrogen sulfide exposure in laboratory animals are nasal and lung irritation and damage and effects on the brain. These effects are consistent with effects seen in people exposed to hydrogen sulfide."
http://www.health.state.ny.us/environmental/chemicals/hydrogen_sulfide/docs/sulfide.pdf
~•~ Dr. Parks
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
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