1.3 Mine Gases - Gases in Mine Air II
1.3 Mine Gases - Gases in Mine Air II
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pair cranial nerves that conduct impulses from the mucous membranes of the
nose to the olfactory bulb) in the nose, leading to a loss of the sense of
smell. This means that the gas can be present at dangerously high
concentrations, with no perceivable odor. Prolonged exposure to lower
concentrations can also result in similar effects of olfactory fatigue. This
unusual property of hydrogen sulfide makes it extremely dangerous to rely
totally on the sense of smell to detect the presence of the gas. The
physiological effects of H2S poisoning are given in Table 1.
Table 1 Physiological effects of H2S poisoning
Concentration
Effects
of H2S (ppm)
50-100
200
500
600
700
1000
A person who recovers from H2S poisoning may have conjunctivitis and
bronchitis for a long period after recovery.
Although hydrogen sulfide is an extremely poisonous gas, miners are rarely
affected by it. This is mainly because it seldom occurs in dangerous
concentrations and also a very small concentration can be easily detected by
virtue of smell.
1.3 Detection of H2S
H2S is easily detected by its smell at very low concentrations of up to
0.000075%. Another detection test for this gas is done by exposing a filter
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effects
of
Concentration
nitrous
fumes
at
different
Effects
of NO2 (ppm)
60
100
150
200
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Effects
of SO2 (ppm)
20
50
400
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Charging of batteries
ii.
iii.
Action of water on hot coal (as water gas) or even some of the hot
minerals
iv.
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Ventilation
and
Environmental
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