Toxic Gases You Might Be Inhaling at Home

Various types of gases are particularly toxic that being exposed to them can result in health problems. This article lists 3 of these poisonous fumes. Read on to learn about their harmful effects on the human body.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is an extremely toxic gas produced when burning fuel, oil, or wood. It's often regarded as a "silent killer" since it's odorless, tasteless, and colorless. A person won't even notice that they're already inhaling large amounts and getting poisoned. 

Everyone is at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, but children are the most vulnerable since they don't have a fully developed immune system yet. Senior citizens are also in danger, especially if their health is starting to decline due to their advanced age.

Exposure to carbon monoxide is pretty common in a household that doesn't have a continuous emissions monitoring device in place. When this happens, the gas will immediately enter the bloodstream and attack red blood cells. It often results in severe headaches, fatigue, stomach cramps, and nausea. In the worst cases, it can lead to chest pains and respiratory problems. The person may even lose consciousness if not treated right away.

Arsine

Characterized by its garlic-like taste and odor, arsine is colorless, non-irritating, and flammable. It's formed when an acidic substance mixes with arsenic, which is commonly found in pesticides, wood preservatives, and pet medications.

When exposed to a low volume of arsine, a person can experience confusion, drowsiness, muscle cramps, and shortness of breath. Inhaling a large amount of this gas often results in jaundice, convulsions, unconsciousness, and paralysis. There are also cases of poisoning that lead to kidney damage, memory loss, and death. 

As of now, no drug can treat arsine poisoning, so the best way to keep yourself safe is to avoid inhaling the gas in large amounts. When the air around you smells like garlic, and you can't find the source, leave the area quickly.

Hydrogen Sulfide

Usually referred to as "sewer gas," hydrogen sulfide is colorless but smells like rotten eggs. It's denser and heavier than air, so it accumulates in low-lying and poorly ventilated areas. It's also highly corrosive, so it's capable of causing major damage even to hard materials, like metals. 

It's also extremely poisonous. Short-term exposure to it leads to headache, eye irritation, skin rashes, and even convulsions. It can also damage a person's olfactory system and prevent them from detecting the foul odor of this fume. Inhaling high levels of hydrogen sulfide can cause convulsions, brain injuries, and heart failure. It can even result in a coma, and victims rarely survive.

There's no surefire way to prevent you and your loved ones from inhaling carbon monoxide, arsine, and hydrogen sulfide. But, you can set up a continuous emission monitoring system at home to detect when levels of these gases are rising. This is one way to protect your family from getting poisoned by these toxic fumes.