“Since hydrogen sulfide occurs naturally in the body, the environment and the gut, enzymes exist in the body capable of detoxifying it by oxidation to (harmless) sulfate.[6] Hence, low levels of sulfide may be tolerated indefinitely.”
REALLY?????
Oh my Gosh! So this means that what could have caused an extinction of the dinosaurs, (which left mammals in place, obviously) really is the hydrogen sulfide. But mammals, like humans, would not be as effected by the gas...
I love Free Republic, seriously. You guys are awesome!
This gushing post is not sarcasm, but relief!
autumn —
Turn the gush down just a bit ;-)
Hydrogen Sulfide, H2S is pretty much a biocide for all organismic that breathe oxygen. In other words, Hydrogen Sulfide *IS* a powerful poison to dinosaurs and humans. It is likely *one* of the causes of the VERY sudden death of the people in Pompeii, along with heat and suffocation.
The other poster wrote about “low levels” of H2S. H2S is a bad gas and is toxic/harmful in fairly low concentrations, much like Cyanide gas.
But fear not, just cuz you can smell it doesn’t mean you will die.
LOTS of land-based wells in Texas and Louisiana are posted with poison gas signs because the wells produce H2S along with methane and crude.
Don’t fear this stuff in this situation.