Question - In what industries might workers become exposed to dangerous levels of hydrogen sulfide?
Answer - The cited article notes “Workers are exposed to sulfide in many industries including agriculture, petroleum, and sewage processing, with a third of petroleum workers experiencing some symptoms from sulfide exposure and 8% having become unconscious. The number of industrial deaths per year from sulfide is unknown, but sulfide is clearly a major occupational hazard, and even a one-time exposure can lead to long-term neurological deficits. Sulfide can be generated easily from simple chemicals, which may explain the recent rash of sulfide-induced suicides. The U.S. government considers sulfide a high priority chemical threat, both industrially and as a potential weapon of mass destruction by terrorists; its characteristic odor of rotten eggs is lost quickly due to paralysis of olfactory receptors, deceiving people of its presence.” (Jiang J et al. Hydrogen sulfide- Mechanisms of toxicity and development of an antidote. 2016 Sci Rep 6, 6, 20831; doi: 10.1038/srep20831.)