The Gas Odor Smell? Ask Annie

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-gas-odor-smell-ask-annie.html

posted by Annie B. Bond Sep 29, 2008 5:00 pm

filed under: Blogs, Ask Annie, Health & Safety, natural gas, neurotoxin, pollutant, toxicant

Dear Annie, I heard that because gas is odorless a scented toxic chemical is put into it to alert people to the danger of a gas leak. Is this true and what is the chemical? –David, TX

Hi David. Yes, this is true, and I know about it because I happen to be one of the population that is very sensitive to it since it is a recognized neurotoxin and I tend to be sensitive to that class of pollutant. The scented chemical used mostly is methl mercaptan, a chemical in the sulfur family, but some more rural areas use what is a more neurotoxic version. Besides being a neurotoxin mercaptan is a recognized respiratory toxicant. Needless to say, when you smell “gas” it is important to report it right away, both so you don’t get exposed to gas and mercaptan.

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Chris Hawkins says
Oct 1, 2008 10:30 AM

I have a friend upstairs from me who has been very sick from the "scent" of a propane barbeque (they say there is no lead or smell). She has multiple chemical sensitivity herself, and I wonder if this chemical is the same for something like that?

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Randy Paynter says
Sep 29, 2008 10:20 PM

Interesting.... and it truly is an awful smell, so I guess that's one more good reason to avoid it.

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