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Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Gas Detectors

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) can be found in many industries and applications, including iron-smelting facilities, landfills, food processing plants, and breweries. Nuclear power plants use hydrogen sulfide to produce heavy water—an alternative to regular water that enables reactors to use ordinary uranium instead of enriched uranium. Farmers use hydrogen sulfide as an agricultural disinfectant. Hydrogen sulfide is highly flammable, explosive, and extremely toxic.

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Characteristics of Hydrogen Sulfide

Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas that is known by its characteristic rotten egg odor. It appears naturally as a byproduct of decomposition. One of the drawbacks to trusting your sense of smell for protection against hydrogen sulfide is that prolonged exposure to the gas renders the sense of smell inoperative.

Hydrogen sulfide is a highly toxic gas. It reacts with the enzymes in the bloodstream to inhibit cell respiration. In other words, high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide can shut off the lungs. Low concentration exposure to the gas can burn the respiratory tract and cause swelling around the eyes.

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HYDROGEN SULFIDE - H2S

Hazard:
Flammable
Will explode; LEL 4.0%
Classification:
Health
Extremely toxic, Oxidizing agent
Synonyms:
Hydrosulfuric acid, sewer gas, sour gas, rotten egg smell
Exposure limits:
(OSHA)
PEL\TWA: 20 ppm
(ACGIH)
STEL: 5 ppm / 15 min.
(OSHA)
IDLH: 100 ppm / 30 min
Industries:
Oil and Gas industries (complete from drilling to refining), pulp and paper, and wastewater treatment

Effects of Various H2S Levels

H2S Level in PPM
Resulting Conditions on Humans
.13
Minimal perceptible odor.
4.60
Easily detected, moderate odor.
10
Beginning eye irritation.
27
Strong, unpleasant odor, but not intolerable.
100
Coughing, eye irritation, loss of sense of smell after 2 to 5 minutes
200-300
Marked conjunctivitis (eye inflammation) and respiratory tract irritation after one hour of exposure.
500-700
Loss of consciousness, cessation (stopping or pausing) of respiration, and death.
1000-2000
Unconsciousness at once, with early cessation of respiration and death in a few minutes. Death may occur even if the individual is removed to fresh air at once.

How to Detect Hydrogen Sulfide

To accurately monitor the many areas in which this gas can pose a hazard, make use of one of Industrial Scientific’s many H2S gas detectors. Options include the Ventis® Pro5, Ventis® MX4, MX6 iBrid®, and Tango® TX2 multi-gas monitors, the Tango® TX1 and GasBadge® Pro single-gas monitors, and the Radius® BZ1 Area Monitor.

Area Monitor

Radius BZ1

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Multi-Gas Monitor

Ventis Pro5

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Multi-Gas Monitor

MX6 iBrid

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Single-Gas Monitor

GasBadge Pro

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Multi-Gas Monitor

Ventis MX4

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Single-Gas Monitor

Tango TX1

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Multi-Gas Monitor

Tango TX2

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