Can a gas leak cause health problems?

Asked by: Charisse Perry

Exposure to a gas leak in your house or apartment may cause deadly symptoms including sickness, weakness, nausea, suffocation, and headaches. If you feel sick or abnormal, immediately call an ambulance to confirm if you have been exposed to gas poisoning.

Are there long-term effects of a gas leak?

Health effects

While exposure to low levels of natural gas is not harmful, long-term exposure can affect your health. Burning natural gas produces nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and methane. These chemicals can trigger respiratory problems, depression, and decrease the quality of your health.

How long does gas leak poisoning last?

The half-life of carboxyhemoglobin in fresh air is approximately 4 hours. To completely flush the carbon monoxide from the body requires several hours, valuable time when additional damage can occur.

What are the signs of a gas leak in your home?

Gas leak signs in the home

• the smell of sulfur or rotten eggs.
• a hissing or whistling sound near a gas line.
• a white cloud or dust cloud near a gas line.
• bubbles in water.
• a damaged gas pipe.
• dead houseplants.

Will a carbon monoxide detector detect a gas leak?

Will a carbon monoxide detector detect a gas leak? Technically speaking, a carbon monoxide detector is not designed to detect the presence of gas. Instead, these devices alert for elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the air that could be the result of toxic gases or air quality issues.

What are two warning signs of carbon monoxide poisoning?

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

• dizziness.
• feeling and being sick.
• tiredness and confusion.
• stomach pain.
• shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.

What are the symptoms of natural gas poisoning?

High levels of natural gas exposure can cause natural gas poisoning, which is characterized by fatigue, severe headaches, memory problems, loss of concentration, nausea, loss of consciousness, and suffocation.

Can my phone detect carbon monoxide?

Carbon Monoxide Detection Systems Mobile App

The Carbon Monoxide Detection Systems Checklist mobile app inspects Carbon Monoxide Detection Systems using an iPad, iPhone, Android device, or a Windows desktop.

What does gas leak smell like?

Natural gas and propane have a distinctive smell for a reason. For safety purposes, utility companies use an additive called mercaptan that gives the colorless and odorless gases a smell that is hard to miss. Most people describe this smell like something like rotten eggs, sewage, or sulfur.

Is it normal to smell a little gas near stove?

Keep in mind that, if the smell is faint, this is not necessarily a cause for alarm — it’s perfectly normal for a natural gas smell to linger if you’re lighting your stove or when the pilot light for one of your appliances goes out.

How much gas smell is normal?

It’s normal to smell an odor for a few seconds before you see the flame on the range. A gas leak smells different, like rotten eggs. A hissing sound can indicate a puncture in the gas tank and some leakage.

What smells like gas but is not gas?

Sulfur is often the cause of a gas smell in homes without gas leaks. It smells identical to the foul rotten odor of gas leaks, but it’s not nearly as harmful in this case. Bacteria found in sewage systems or your kitchen sink release sulfur over time, causing the smell to permeate your home.

What should I do if I smell gas?

If you smell gas in your home or street, make sure you call 000 straight away. You’ll find your local natural gas distributor and other emergency contacts on our emergencies page. Turn off the gas at your gas meter or cylinder. Turn off all appliances, including your electrical appliances and pilot lights.

What is considered a gas emergency?

You should call the emergency line if: You can smell gas. You have low or high pressure. You suspect carbon monoxide poisoning.

Do you get charged for a gas leak call out?

Calling the National Gas Emergency Service number is an important step when you suspect a gas leak. The number operates 24/7 and is free to call.