Hydrogen Sulfide - ToxFAQs™

CAS # 7783-06-4
This fact sheet answers the most frequently asked health questions (FAQs) about hydrogen sulfide. For more
information, call the CDC Information Center at 1-800-232-4636. This fact sheet is one in a series of summaries about
hazardous substances and their health effects. It’s important you understand this information because this substance
may harm you. The effects of exposure to any hazardous substance depend on the dose, the duration, how you are
exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether other chemicals are present.

HIGHLIGHTS: Hydrogen sulfide occurs naturally and is also produced by human

activities. Just a few breaths of air containing high levels of hydrogen sulfide can
cause death. Lower, longer-term exposure can cause eye irritation, headache, and
fatigue. Hydrogen sulfide has been found in at least 34 of the 1,832 National
Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

What is hydrogen sulfide? • People living near a wastewater treatment plant, a gas
Hydrogen sulfide is a flammable, colorless gas that smells like rotten and oil drilling operation, a farm with manure storage or
eggs. People usually can smell hydrogen sulfide at low concentrations livestock confinement facilities, or a landfill may be
in air ranging from 0.0005 to 0.3 parts per million (ppm). exposed to higher levels of this chemical.

Hydrogen sulfide occurs naturally in crude petroleum, natural gas, • You can be exposed at work if you work in rayon textiles,
volcanic gases, and hot springs. It can also result from bacterial petroleum and natural gas drilling and refining, or
breakdown of organic matter. Bacteria found in your mouth and wastewater treatment industries. Workers on farms with
digestive tract produce hydrogen sulfide during the digestion of food manure storage pits or landfills can be exposed to higher
containing vegetable or animal proteins. Industrial sources of hydrogen levels of hydrogen sulfide.
sulfide include petroleum refineries, natural gas plants, petrochemical
plants, coke oven plants, food processing plants, and tanneries. • A small amount of hydrogen sulfide is produced by
bacteria in your mouth and digestive tract.
It is used primarily in the production of sulfur and sulfuric acid.
How can hydrogen sulfide affect my
What happens to hydrogen sulfide when it health?
enters the environment?
Studies in humans suggest that the respiratory tract and
• Hydrogen sulfide can be released into air, water, and soil at places nervous system are the most sensitive targets of hydrogen
where it is produced or used. sulfide toxicity.

• It is released primarily as a gas and spreads in the air. It can remain Exposure to low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide may
in the air from 1 to 42 days, depending on the season. cause irritation to the eyes, nose, or throat. It may also
cause difficulty in breathing for some asthmatics.
• In air, it can change into sulfur dioxide and sulfates. Respiratory distress or arrest has been observed in people
exposed to very high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide.
• Levels in water are very low because it readily evaporates.
Exposure to low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide may
• In soil, hydrogen sulfide will be consumed by bacteria and changed cause headaches, poor memory, tiredness, and balance
to sulfur. problems. Brief exposures to high concentrations of
hydrogen sulfide can cause loss of consciousness. In most
cases, the person appears to regain consciousness without
How might I be exposed to hydrogen sulfide? any other effects. However, in some individuals, there may
be permanent or long-term effects such as headaches, poor
• You might be exposed to hydrogen sulfide from breathing attention span, poor memory, and poor motor function.
contaminated air or drinking contaminated water.

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences
 Hydrogen Sulfide
CAS # 7783-06-4
How likely is hydrogen sulfide to cause • Families can reduce their exposure to hydrogen sulfide by
avoiding areas that are sources of hydrogen sulfide. For
cancer? example, individuals of families that live on farms can
avoid manure storage areas where high concentrations of
Hydrogen sulfide has not been shown to cause cancer in hydrogen sulfide may be found.
humans, and its possible ability to cause cancer in animals
has not been studied thoroughly.
Is there a medical test to show whether
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and I’ve been exposed to hydrogen sulfide?
the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have
not classified hydrogen sulfide as to its carcinogenicity. The Hydrogen sulfide and its breakdown products (metabolites)
EPA has determined that data for hydrogen sulfide are can be measured in blood and urine. However, the
inadequate for carcinogenic assessments. detection of hydrogen sulfide or its metabolites cannot
predict the kind of health effects that might develop from that
How can hydrogen sulfide affect exposure. Because hydrogen sulfide and its metabolites
leave the body fairly rapidly, the tests need to be conducted
children? soon after exposure.

There is very little information on possible health problems in

children who have been exposed to hydrogen sulfide.
Has the federal government made
Exposed children probably will experience effects similar to recommendations to protect human
those experienced by exposed adults. Whether children are health?
more sensitive to hydrogen sulfide exposure than adults is not
known.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
set an acceptable ceiling limit of 20 ppm for hydrogen sulfide
It is not known whether hydrogen sulfide causes birth defects
in workplace air. The ceiling limit is a 15-minute time-
in people. The results of studies in animals suggest that
weighted average that cannot be exceeded at any time
exposure to low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide during
during the working day.
pregnancy does not cause birth defects.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
How can families reduce the risk of (NIOSH) recommends a 10-minute ceiling limit of 10 ppm.
exposure to hydrogen sulfide? NIOSH also determined that 100 ppm is immediately
dangerous to life or health of workers.
• Hydrogen sulfide is part of the natural environment; the
general population will have some exposure to hydrogen References
sulfide. Families can be exposed to more hydrogen sulfide
than the general population if they live near natural or This ToxFAQs™ information is taken from the 2016
industrial sources of hydrogen sulfide, such as hot springs, Toxicological Profile for Hydrogen Sulfide and Carbonyl
manure holding tanks, or pulp and paper mills. However, Sulfide produced by the Agency for Toxic Substances and
their exposure levels are unlikely to approach those that Disease Registry, U.S. Department of Health and Human
sicken people exposed at work. Services, Public Health Service in Atlanta, GA.

Where can I get more information?

For more information, contact the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Division of Toxicology and
Human Health Sciences, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop F-57, Atlanta, GA 30333-4027.

Phone: 1-800-232-4636.

ToxFAQsTM on the web: www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxFAQs.

ATSDR can tell you where to find occupational and environmental health clinics. Their specialists can recognize, evaluate,
and treat illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous substances. You can also contact your community or state health
or environmental quality department if you have any more questions or concerns.

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