Hydrogen sulfide is extremely rare in nature. However, in some cases, a person is forced to come into contact with this substance. This happens not only at work, but also in everyday life. It is worth noting that a small concentration of the substance is in the intestine. It is impossible to escape his presence in life. What is hydrogen sulfide? What is hazardous to health?
How is the substance formed
Not everyone knows what hydrogen sulfide is, what is dangerous to health and how it is formed. To begin with, it is worth clarifying that this substance is a gas that has a characteristic odor. Hydrogen sulfide consists of several components: one part of sulfur and two parts of hydrogen.
The substance is present in certain natural sources, in wastes of volcanic origin, in layers of sea water at great depths. How is hydrogen sulfide formed? What is dangerous for human and animal health? We will consider this below. First you need to figure out where such a substance comes from. In nature, hydrogen sulfide is formed as a result of prolonged rotting of the protein. Confusing gas with other substances is very difficult, since it smells like a rotten egg.
Where does a man face him
In the life of a modern person, hydrogen sulfide is quite common:
- The substance is a side component that is formed during the smelting of cast iron, in the production of asphalt, cellulose and viscose.
- Gas is released under laboratory conditions in the process of obtaining salts of copper and silver. For this reason, many employees of such enterprises are more likely to get poisoned.
- Hydrogen sulfide is very often formed in sewage during the treatment process.
- Some dyes include sulfur compounds, as well as hydrogen sulfide.
- It is used as a component for therapeutic baths.
Intestinal hydrogen sulfide
Where else is hydrogen sulfide present? What is hazardous to health, and how can it harm? In the intestine, the gas content in a healthy person should be from 0.1 to 0.5 liters. Part of the trace concentration is hydrogen sulfide. This is the norm. At the same time, a person feels quite normal, since gas does not harm him.
However, with the appearance of stagnant processes, as well as with excessive consumption of protein foods, the concentration of hydrogen sulfide increases several times. This negatively affects not only the work of the entire intestine. Man gets poisoned. First aid for such phenomena is a balanced diet.
Hydrogen sulfide gas: what is dangerous?
A person encounters sulfur compounds daily. Such a substance is dangerous because the body gradually gets used to it. A person ceases to smell gas. As a result of this, severe hydrogen sulfide poisoning can be obtained. In small quantities, the substance is not harmful. However, with an increase in the concentration of gas in the inhaled air from 0.01% and higher, poisoning can occur. First of all, the digestive system is affected, and the nervous system is also inhibited. If the concentration rises by more than 0.05%, then a person feels a sharp deterioration in health. In this case, there are abnormalities in the work of almost all internal organs, which can cause instant death. Most often, a fatal outcome occurs upon contact with hydrogen sulfide for more than 30 minutes. Typically, gas poisoning can occur when this compound is inhaled while working with reagents. The reason often lies in the elementary non-observance of safety rules.
Effect on the body
Hydrogen sulfide is dangerous for humans, since this gas can cause serious poisoning. In case of untimely assistance, the victim may die. What are the signs of poisoning?
If this sulfur compound is inhaled, a person may experience itchy nose, runny nose, and salivation. It is very dangerous if hydrogen sulfide gets into the eyes. Vapors of this substance can cause swelling of the organs of vision, conjunctival hyperemia, pain, damage to the iris, as well as clouding of the cornea. As a result of poisoning, a person may experience photophobia. With a very high concentration of hydrogen sulfide, the victim may lose vision.
Hydrogen sulfide is hazardous to health even if it comes into contact with the skin. If the concentration is low, then the substance can cause redness, and if it is large, then a burn of 2 or 3 degrees develops. In the presence of large areas of affected skin, shock can occur in a person.
If hydrogen sulfide has entered the body
Gas can harm even internal organs. When ingested, hydrogen sulfide can cause vomiting, nausea, impaired consciousness, dizziness, pain behind the sternum, sore throat. In some cases, the victim develops bronchitis. In this case, a cough may be accompanied by sputum mixed with blood. It is extremely rare for the victim to develop bronchopneumonia.
In addition to the above, a person with poisoning with this compound may experience headaches, fatigue. Often there is a decrease in blood pressure, arousal of consciousness, fainting, as well as an increase in temperature. If the poisoning is severe, then the victim can quickly lose consciousness. A similar phenomenon is often accompanied by convulsions, circulatory and respiratory disorders, inhibition of reflexes, and so on.