Occupation hydrogen sulphide

Glass DC. 1990a. A review of the health effects of hydrogen sulphide exposure. Ann Occup Hyg 34 323-327. 

Glass DC. 1990b. An assessment of the exposure of water reclamation workers to hydrogen sulphide. Ann Occup Hyg 34 509-519. 

Schneider JS, Tobe EH, Mozley Jr. PD, et al. 1998. Persistent cognitive and motor deficits following acute hydrogen sulphide poisoning. Occup Med 48 255-260. 

Vanhoome M, de Rouck A, de Bacquer D. 1995. Epidemiological study of eye irritation by hydrogen sulphide and/or carbon disulphide exposure in viscose rayon workers. Ann Occup Hyg 39 307-315. 

Table 1. Occupations with potential exposure to hydrogen sulphide.

It is desirable to have direct evidence from other experimental methods such as neutron diffraction and scattering. The dielectric constant of the hydrogen sulphide clathrate increased as the temperature decreased down to 10 - 15 K [13]. It decreased at the lower temperature. The temperature of the maximum of the dielectric constant depended on the occupancy x. However, it was always higher than the temperature of the heat capacity peak. The mechanism of the phase transition at 7.6 K will be discussed below. 

Only methane and hydrogen sulphide have similar occupancy factors for the small and large cages and there is some indication that even these molecules prefer 14- to 12-hedral cages. This is certainly so for xenon where an occupancy ratio of 0.77 corresponds to a value of which is an order of magnitude larger than C 2 ... 

These effects are less apparent to the manufacturer than to the end user of the polymer dispersion, but they must not be overlooked. Both the foul odours, particularly from hydrogen sulphide, and the actual presence of microbial spores can have a serious effect on man. Hydrogen sulphide levels in contaminated products have never been shown to reach toxic concentrations but even very small amounts can render a product unsaleable. In both of these examples there are strict guidelines on occupational exposure. In the case of microbial spores, overexposure can lead to respiratory disorders and asthmatic symptoms. 

Costigan MG (2003) Hydrogen sulphide UK occupational exposure limits. Occup Environ Med 60 308-312... 

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