Investigation of Health Effects of Hydrogen Sulfide from a Geothermal Source

Bates, Michael; Garrett, Nick; Shoemack, Phil

doi:10.1080/00039890209601428

Cited by 81 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Bates et al (1998Bates et al ( , 2002 and Durand and Wilson (in press), who studied larger populations in New Zealand, also pointed out that continuous exposure to volcanic environments may be associated to an increase in cancer, and cardiovascular, nervous system and respiratory diseases. However, the question whether chronic exposure to volcanic hazardous gases and aerosols is a cause of cancer is complex, and more research on specific volcanic exposure factors, e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Chronic exposure to H 2 S, which is considered an extremely toxic gas, at concentrations as low as 50 ppm may cause pharyngitis and bronchitis, while concentrations over 250 ppm may result in pulmonary edema (WilliamsJones and Rymer, 2000). A possible connection between chronic exposure to H 2 S, at lower doses, and noninfectious respiratory, nervous system and cardiovascular diseases is also referred by Bates et al (2002) and Durand and Wilson (in press) in studies made in an urbanized geothermal field in New Zealand. In addition, Bates et al (1998) suggest a possible association between this gas and cancer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

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Chronic exposure to volcanic environments and cancer incidence in the Azores, Portugal

Amaral

Rodrigues

Oliveira³

et al. 2006

Science of The Total Environment

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Whether volcanic environments pose a risk in cancer incidence is unknown. We investigated this question in two populations, one from an area with active manifestations of volcanism (Furnas) and another from an area without volcanic activity since 3 million years ago (Santa Maria), both in Azores. Incidence data on cancer among the populations of Furnas and Santa Maria during 1991-2001 were obtained from medical records of local health centers. Age-standardized rates and relative risks were estimated. Overall incidence rates were higher in the volcanically active area when observing all cancers and both sexes combined. However, the non-volcanically active area presented higher rates of cancer of digestive, respiratory and intrathoracic organs, mainly in males, while the area with volcanic manifestations showed higher rates of cancer of lip, oral cavity and pharynx, in both sexes, and female breast. Relative risk estimates between both populations suggest a higher risk for cancer in some groups of organs in Furnas, especially of lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer, and breast, that may be partially explained by the chronic exposure to environmental factors resulting from volcanic activity, such as hazardous gases and aerosols, much of them associated to trace metals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Chronic exposure to volcanic environments and cancer incidence in the Azores, Portugal

Amaral

Rodrigues

Oliveira³

et al. 2006

Science of The Total Environment

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“…For example, chronic exposure to H 2 S, considered an extremely toxic gas, at concentrations as low as 50 ppm may cause pharyngitis and bronchitis while concentrations over 250 ppm may result in pulmonary edema (Williams-Jones and Rymer, 2000). Even at lower doses, chronic exposure to H 2 S may be linked to noninfectious respiratory disease, as suggested by Bates et al (2001) and Durand and Wilson (2006) in studies made in an urbanized geothermal field in Rotorua. A correlation between SO 2 and the prevalence of bronchitis in children has been found by Herbarth et al (2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic exposure to volcanic environments and chronic bronchitis incidence in the Azores, Portugal

Amaral

Rodrigues

2007

Environmental Research

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The village of Furnas, like other active volcanic areas in the world, exhibits high levels of hazardous gases. We aimed to investigate the existence of a possible association between chronic exposure to volcanic sulfur gases and chronic bronchitis. To investigate this, we used two populations, one exposed to active manifestations of volcanism (Furnas) and another from an area where no volcanic activity took place for over three million years (Santa Maria), both in the Azores. We used data on the incidence of chronic bronchitis among both populations (1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001), obtained from the records of each local health center, and population denominators from censuses carried out in 1991 and 2001, using five age-groups. We also estimated relative risks and mean annual age-standardized rates of chronic bronchitis incidence. Incidence rates were extremely higher in the volcanically active area for both sexes, and especially in the youngest groups. Accordingly, the risk of chronic bronchitis for the people living in the volcanically active area was extremely higher (males RR ¼ 3.99; females RR ¼ 10.74) when compared to those living in the volcanically inactive area. Comparison of chronic bronchitis incidence rates between both populations suggests an association between this disease and the chronic exposure to the volcanically active environment, with all its hazardous gases like hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide. These findings may help health officials to better advice people inhabiting volcanic areas, or others with high levels of sulfur gases, on how to prevent and minimize the risks of chronic bronchitis. r

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“…When Bates et al (1998) compared the hospital discharge data of Rotorua residents during this time period to that of all other New Zealand residents, they found a significant increase in circulatory diseases among the Rotorua residents (Bates et al, 1998). A recent study from the same authors in the same study area suggests the existence of chronic health effects from H 2 S exposure (Bates et al, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Ambient hydrogen sulfide, total reduced sulfur, and hospital visits for respiratory diseases in northeast Nebraska, 1998–2000

Campagna

Kathman

Pierson

et al. 2004

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

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This analysis examined associations between total reduced sulfur (TRS) and hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) levels, and hospital visits for respiratory disease among residents of Dakota City and South Sioux City, Nebraska, from January 1998 to May 2000. For reference, the association between TRS, H 2 S, and digestive diseases was also examined. Time-series analyses of daily hospital visits in the selected outcome categories and measures of TRS and H 2 S were performed using generalized additive models with a Poisson link. TRS and H 2 S levels were categorized as high if at least one of the daily 30-min rolling averages was Z30 ppb and as low if every rolling average was o30 ppb. Loess smoothers allowed for flexible modeling of the time effect and the effect of temperature and relative humidity. The measure of association used was the mean percent change in the average number of hospital visits recorded following a day with a high exposure versus a day with a low exposure. For children less than 18 years of age, a positive association was found between asthma hospital visits and 1-day lagged TRS levels. For adults, a positive association was found between asthma hospital visits and H 2 S levels on the previous day. A positive association also was found between hospital visits for all respiratory diseases, and H 2 S and TRS levels on the previous day for children but not for adults. No association was found between contaminant levels and hospital visits for all digestive diseases. These findings suggest that TRS or H 2 S levels may be associated with exacerbations of asthma or other respiratory diseases among the residents of Dakota City and South Sioux City.

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Investigation of Health Effects of Hydrogen Sulfide from a Geothermal Source

Cited by 81 publications

References 9 publications

Chronic exposure to volcanic environments and cancer incidence in the Azores, Portugal

Chronic exposure to volcanic environments and cancer incidence in the Azores, Portugal

Chronic exposure to volcanic environments and chronic bronchitis incidence in the Azores, Portugal

Ambient hydrogen sulfide, total reduced sulfur, and hospital visits for respiratory diseases in northeast Nebraska, 1998–2000

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