Investigation of Health Effects of Hydrogen Sulfide from a Geothermal Source

Little is known about health effects from chronic exposure to hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S). The city of Rotorua, New Zealand, is exposed to H 2 S by virtue of its location over a geothermal field. In this study, the authors classified areas within Rotorua as high-, medium, or low-H 2 S exposure areas. U...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of environmental health 2002-09, Vol.57 (5), p.405-411
Main Authors: Bates, Michael N., Garrett, Nick, Shoemack, Phil
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Age Distribution
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Air Pollutants - analysis
Air Pollutants - poisoning
Biological and medical sciences
Cardiovascular Diseases - chemically induced
Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology
Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases
Child
Child, Preschool
Chronic Disease
Confounding Factors (Epidemiology)
Environmental Exposure - adverse effects
Environmental Exposure - analysis
Environmental Exposure - classification
Environmental Monitoring
Epidemiological Monitoring
Female
Gas, fumes
geothermal
health effects
Humans
hydrogen sulfide
Hydrogen Sulfide - analysis
Hydrogen Sulfide - poisoning
Incidence
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Morbidity
Nervous System Diseases - chemically induced
Nervous System Diseases - epidemiology
New Zealand
New Zealand - epidemiology
Patient Discharge - statistics & numerical data
Population Surveillance - methods
Regression Analysis
Respiratory Tract Diseases - chemically induced
Respiratory Tract Diseases - epidemiology
Toxicology
Urban Health - statistics & numerical data
Volcanic Eruptions - adverse effects
Volcanic Eruptions - analysis
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Little is known about health effects from chronic exposure to hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S). The city of Rotorua, New Zealand, is exposed to H 2 S by virtue of its location over a geothermal field. In this study, the authors classified areas within Rotorua as high-, medium, or low-H 2 S exposure areas. Using 1993-1996 morbidity data, standardized incidence ratios were calculated for neurological, respiratory, and cardiovascular effects. Poisson regression analysis was used to confirm results. Results showed exposure-response trends, particularly for nervous system diseases, but also for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Data on confounders were limited to age, ethnicity, and gender. The H 2 S exposure assessment had limitations. Assumptions were that recent exposure represented long-term exposure and that an individual's entire exposure was received at home. The results of this study strengthen the suggestion that there are chronic health effects from H 2 S exposure. Further investigation is warranted.
ISSN:0003-9896
2331-4303
DOI:10.1080/00039890209601428