Low level exposure to hydrogen sulfide: a review of emissions, community exposure, health effects, and exposure guidelines

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a toxic gas that is well-known for its acute health risks in occupational settings, but less is known about effects of chronic and low-level exposures. This critical review investigates toxicological and experimental studies, exposure sources, standards, and epidemiological studies pertaining to chronic exposure to H₂S from both natural and anthropogenic sources. H₂S releases, while poorly documented, appear to have increased in recent years from oil and gas and possibly other facilities. Chronic exposures below 10 ppm have long been associated with odor aversion, ocular, nasal, respiratory and neurological effects. However, exposure to much lower levels, below 0.03 ppm (30 ppb), has been associated with increased prevalence of neurological effects, and increments below 0.001 ppm (1 ppb) in H₂S concentrations have been associated with ocular, nasal, and respiratory effects. Many of the studies in the epidemiological literature are limited by exposure measurement error, co-pollutant exposures and potential confounding, small sample size, and concerns of representativeness, and studies have yet to consider vulnerable populations. Long-term community-based studies are needed to confirm the low concentration findings and to refine exposure guidelines. Revised guidelines that incorporate both short- and long-term limits are needed to protect communities, especially sensitive populations living near H₂S sources.

Keywords: Hydrogen sulfide; chronic; environmental; epidemiology; occupational.

Figure 1.

H₂S emissions reported in the U.S. Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) to air and other media by the top emitting industry sectors, 2012–2020. “Oil & gas” includes releases from petroleum refineries, bulk plants and terminals, and NAICS industry code 999 (primarily oil and gas extraction); “Paper” includes pulp mills; “Other” includes primary metals, nonmetallic mineral products, water, wastewater, beverages, electric utilities, hazardous waste, wood products, leather, poultry and egg production, machinery, furniture, transportation equipment, and metal mining.