are natural gas fumes harmful
The component of natural gas that makes it dangerous is methane, which is extremely flammable. A natural gas leak can cause a fire or an explosion. It's not easy to detect a natural gas leak because methane, and the carbon monoxide that it releases, is odorless, tasteless and colorless. Many gas companies add mercapton or some other sulfide-based substance to natural gas. This is what gives it that rotten egg smell and makes leaks easier to detect. Is it toxic?: Considered a simple asphyxiant, which means it displaces oxygen from the air. If there is a leak into a small-enclosed space the resulting lack of oxygen may cause symptoms of hypoxia. Incomplete combustion of natural gas (from a malfunctioning furnace) can produce carbon monoxide. Natural gas poisoning isn’t limited to your indoors environment; you can be affected just as easily outdoors. As you turn on your gas lines this season, watch for early warning signs in you and your family. Headaches and dizziness. When natural gas is burned, as in cooking and heating, the chemicals create nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, fine particulates, polycyclicaromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (including formaldehyde) as well as other chemicals. People exposed to natural gas poisoning for long periods of time may end up with a variety of long term health issues. Epilepsy, pneumonia, memory loss, depression, claustrophobia, seizures, and heart problems have all been reported in patients suffering from natural gas poisoning. The difference between natural gas poisoning and carbon monoxide poisoning is natural gas poisoning is caused by inhaling the natural gas fumes leaking from the pipe that carries it inside the house from the gas meter. Those are before burn fumes. They are not yet burning in the furnace. While a strong odor is combined with natural gas to help you detect leaks as they happen, it may not be easy to detect right away. If at any time you detect a rotten egg odor, have it checked out immediately. [Quality 1st Plumbing can help you install, fix, replace or maintain your gas lines. Give us a call today.] This excess moisture also provides better growing conditions for dust mites, viruses and bacteria. Natural gas brings harmful chemicals into homes through the methane it contains. Methane (which gives the flame its blue colour as it does in propane) is an asphyxiant. Natural Gas. Natural Gas: Used for heating homes and running appliances such as water heaters and stoves. It contains methane (also known as swamp gas or marsh gas), which is a hydrocarbon. Methane occurs naturally in the earth's crust and is also formed by decaying organic matter such as manure or sewage. Gas appliances create a constant low level exposure to gas which can. cause or increase illnesses. Natural gas is a sensitizer, which means that exposure can lead to intolerance and adverse reactions both to. it and other substances in our environment.
Yes, natural gas fumes are poisonous.