Sewer gas
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Sewer gas is a complex, generally obnoxious smelling mixture of toxic and nontoxic gases produced and collected in sewage systems by the decomposition of organic household or industrial wastes, typical components of sewage.[1]
Sewer gases may include
In homes
Sewer gas is typically restricted from entering buildings through
Exposure to sewer gas also can happen if the gas seeps in via a leaking plumbing drain or vent pipe, or even through cracks in a building’s foundation. Sewer gas is typically denser than atmospheric gases and may accumulate in basements, but may eventually mix with surrounding air. Individuals who work in sanitation industries or on farms might be exposed on the job if they clean or maintain municipal sewers, manure storage tanks, or septic tanks.
In buildings with
History
During the mid-nineteenth century, when indoor plumbing was being developed, it was a common belief that disease was caused largely by
Health effects
In most homes, sewer gas may have an unpleasant odor, but does not often pose a significant health hazard.
Explosion risk
Sewer gas can contain methane and hydrogen sulfide, both highly flammable and potentially explosive substances. As such, ignition of the gas is possible with flame or sparks.[7] The methane concentration in open sewers is lower (7 to 15 ppmv) than the closed drains (up to 300 ppmv) in samples collected 2 cm (0.8 in) above the level of sewage.[8]
Greenhouse gas contribution
Fully vented sewer gases contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Septic vent pipes can be fitted with filters that remove some odors.[citation needed]
Sewer gas can be used as a power source, thus reducing the consumption of fossil fuels. The gas is piped into a cleaning system and then used as a fuel to power a generator or combined heat and power (CHP) plant.
Impact on sewerage
Gases present in sewerage can strongly impact material durability due to the action of microorganisms. The most deleterious one is associated to hydrogen sulfide that can result in biogenic sulfide corrosion or microbial corrosion. In worst cases, it may lead to the collapse of the structure with significant cost for its rehabilitation.
See also
- Fire protection
- Indoor air quality
- Louisville sewer explosions
- Plumbing
- Potable cold and hot water supply
- Rainwater, surface, and subsurface water drainage
- Septic systems
- Sewer gas destructor lamp
- Marsh gas
References
- ^ "Sewer Gas". dhs.wisconsin.gov. 10 March 2017.
- PMID 11733443.
- ^ "The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson - Online Resources". www.theghostmap.com.
- ISBN 1-59448-925-4.
- ^ Thad Godish (February 2002). "Indoor Environment Notebook". Ball State University: Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management. Archived from the original on 2012-01-13.
- ISBN 978-3-659-21734-0
- ^ "Exposure to sewer gas". www.dhs.wisconsin.gov. 3 March 2017.
- ^ N N Purkait and D K Chakrabarty. Methane Emission from open drain; Indian journal of Radio and Physics; vol 4, March 2015: pp 56-59 ( M K Mitra centre for research in Space Environment, Institute of Radiophysics and electronics, University of Clacutta, Kolkata.