Posted by The Balloonist on June 08, 2002 at 08:44:26:
In Reply to: Exposure To Natural Gas posted by June Cheah Nicholls on June 07, 2002 at 13:12:57:
: Substance Information Sheet
: Natural Gas - Methane, Ethane and Propane
: Substance description:
: Most natural gas, used as fuel in households, is a mixture of 85% methane, 9% ethane, 3% propane and 2% of other gases.
: All of these substances are colorless gases with a characteristic unpleasant odor. The odor, however, is added to this mixture of otherwise odorless gases. Natural gas like other asphyxiant gases displace oxygen from the air and can cause asphyxia.
: In industrial settings, these gases are also used in the manufacture of freezing agents, acetylene, ammonia, formaldehyde, and other chemicals. Workers should observe safety recommendations in order to avoid harmful exposures to these agents.
First of all let me start off by saying that I have been flying, Propane fueled, hot air balloons for 20 years, I have also been in the
Propane Industry for the same amount, and just to make you morons hate me even more I am also a smoker. The chemicals that
you refer to (acetylene, ammonia, formaldehyde, and other chemicals.) were not the idea of the gas industry, but
the brain child of simple minded people like you at the EPA to reduce air pollution caused by burning Gasoline in our cars. The
EPA mandated that these chemicals be added to all gasses used as motor fuels. It doesn't matter how many, what kind, or
where your "degree(s)" come from, in my personal experience I have met some real idiots that hold PhD's, and in turn some of
the smartest I have met have been high school dropouts. In closing I would like to say that if you are having proven health
problems, and I do not mean proven by junk science, but by real medical professionals, maybe you should look to
your selves instead of blaming an industry that serves you with a product.
D.I.L.L.I.G.A.F,
The Balloonist
: Please keep gas heaters, fuel gas containers and stoves serviced and your home heating system well ventilated to avoid high concentrations of these gases in your home environment.
: Exposure to natural gas:
: Methane, propane and butane displace oxygen from the air and can cause asphyxia when inhaled in large concentrations. Harmful effects of inhalation of natural gas depends on the amount of oxygen displaced from the air by these gases, the duration of the exposure, the time interval between the exposure and the medical assistance, and other factors.
: http://www.toxicology.mc.vanderbilt.edu/Outreach/Poison/NATGAS.html