General Cycling Discussion - Should I worry about this hs2 smell when riding my bike?

I havent rode my bike where theres a h2s smell. I would if I wanted to ride my bike to town.

On this map of where I will ride the bigger red dot is where I see the flame,could be further away and the small red dot is me. I think the flame is where the smell is coming from.

http://i54.tinypic.com/5ziper.jpg

Now that I think of it theres a bunch of smells I come accross when driving to different places. It probably isnt harmful on bicycle or they would warn it on tv or something.

That all depends on how well environmental laws are enforced in that area.

From Wikipedia:



0.00047 ppm (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parts_per_million) is the recognition threshold, the concentration at which 50% of humans can detect the characteristic odor of hydrogen sulfide,[12] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_sulfide#cite_note-11) normally described as resembling "a rotten egg".
Less than 10 ppm has an exposure limit of 8 hours per day.
10–20 ppm is the borderline concentration for eye irritation.
50–100 ppm leads to eye damage.
At 100–150 ppm the olfactory nerve (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olfactory_nerve) is paralyzed after a few inhalations, and the sense of smell disappears, often together with awareness of danger.[13] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_sulfide#cite_note-12)[14] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_sulfide#cite_note-13)
320–530 ppm leads to pulmonary edema (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulmonary_edema) with the possibility of death.
530–1000 ppm causes strong stimulation of the central nervous system (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_nervous_system) and rapid breathing, leading to loss of breathing.
800 ppm is the lethal concentration for 50% of humans for 5 minutes exposure (LC50 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LC50)).
Concentrations over 1000 ppm cause immediate collapse with loss of breathing, even after inhalation of a single breath.

As you can see, Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) has an odor threshold of 0.00047 ppm, which is well below the threshold limit value (TLV) of 10ppm (the amount that the average adult can be subjected to 10 ppm of H2S for 8 hours a day, with no adverse effects.)

Hopefully, that factory/refinery/sewage treatment plant is taking adequate steps to keep toxic pollutants below toxic levels.

In short, just because you can smell it, does not necessarily mean you are in danger...it does screw up the riding experience somewhat...

If you are still concerned, I'd suggest contacting the EPA (or the regional air quality board, if there is one).

I think its pretty safe then.

You can get plenty of whiffs of it in heavy traffic due to maladjusted injection systems or when some clown floors it. I suspect the odor from the plant is just that, an odor. Plants are required to monitor their emissions those records have to be filed with the EPA (or the appropriate government agency) those records are public records and can be requested for review if you are that concerned. You can also find out how many past violations the plant has had.

Aaron :)

You live near a paper mill?

You live near a paper mill?

I have and I am currently working at one....G-P Big Island (http://www.gp.com/containerboard/mills/big/index.html).

Aaron :)

I have and I am currently working at one....G-P Big Island (http://www.gp.com/containerboard/mills/big/index.html).

Aaron :)
I live near Savannah, GA. Three big paper mills, and when the wind shifts the smell can be overwhelming. The smell has lessened over the last few years, as one converted to processing recycled paper instead of processing raw pulp.

I live near Savannah, GA. Three big paper mills, and when the wind shifts the smell can be overwhelming. The smell has lessened over the last few years, as one converted to processing recycled paper instead of processing raw pulp.

I also have worked at the one in Hanahan, SC. I know for a fact that one has been reducing emissions on a regular basis. If you want something really foul try a hog processor, poultry processor or a by products plant. I have guys that cannot work at those places, their stomachs won't take it.

Aaron :)

What the heck did he say?