Can you get sick from a natural gas leak? Being exposed to a gas leak for a long time can cause a number of symptoms, including headaches, nausea and weakness. If you feel abnormal or sick, call an ambulance immediately.
Sickness and Fatigue
Exposure to a slow gas leak in your house or apartment may cause deadly symptoms including sickness, weakness, nausea, suffocation, and headaches. If you feel sick or abnormal, immediately call an ambulance to confirm if you have been exposed to gas poisoning.
If you suspect you have natural gas poisoning, the first thing you should do is seek fresh air. This isn't detoxing per se, but it prevents more of the toxin from building up in your body. Then get yourself to a doctor. If your poisoning is severe enough, doctors may give you an oxygen mask to help your body recover.
Gas leaks are subtle in smell but very obvious in bills. They can even go on for months undetected.
A gas leak is when natural gas leaks from a pipeline and then into an area where it shouldn't be. Leaks are considered very dangerous since they can build into an explosive concentration. They can kill vegetation and trees, cause explosions and fires, and might release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
3,200 ppm: After only 5 to 10 minutes, headache, nausea, and dizziness may occur. And after 30 minutes of gas exposure, collapse and unconsciousness. 6,400 ppm: After 1 to 2 minutes, similar symptoms of headache and dizziness. Loss of consciousness and potential death within 10 to 15 minutes.
High levels of natural gas exposure can cause natural gas poisoning, which is characterized by fatigue, severe headaches, memory problems, loss of concentration, nausea, loss of consciousness, and suffocation.
But 10% to 30% of them revisit hospital with delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae, symptoms such as cognitive and personality changes, incontinence, dementia, and psychosis. Parkinsonism is also one of the features of delayed CO encephalopathy, and has been reported to occur in 9.5% of CO poisoned patients.
A high concentration can displace oxygen in the air. If less oxygen is available to breathe, symptoms such as rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, clumsiness, emotional upsets and fatigue can result. As less oxygen becomes available, nausea and vomiting, collapse, convulsions, coma and death can occur.
A small gas leak can cause headaches, fatigue and flu-like symptoms.
Natural gas is 30% lighter than air. If a leak occurs in an open area, natural gas will easily vent and dissipate into the atmosphere. When enclosed, natural gas will rise to the ceiling and fill the room from top to bottom.
Because it takes an hour or two for the gas to dissipate – the safety recommendations are to never turn on any electric device or spark a flame (i.e. light a candle or cigarette) if you are in a house with a possible gas leak. It's also the reason to leave the house until it has been cleared by the first responders.
Prolonged deprivation of oxygen that can occur with methane gas poisoning can also cause permanent damage to the brain and the heart.
High concentrations of carbon monoxide kill in less than five minutes. At low concentrations it will require a longer period of time to affect the body. Exceeding the EPA concentration of 9 ppm for more than 8 hours is suspected to produce adverse health affects in persons at risk.
Breathing small amounts of gasoline vapors can lead to nose and throat irritation, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion and breathing difficulties. Symptoms from swallowing small amounts of gasoline include mouth, throat and stomach irritation, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and headaches.
The symptoms of exposure to low levels of carbon monoxide can be similar to those of food poisoning and flu. But unlike flu, carbon monoxide poisoning doesn't cause a high temperature (fever). The symptoms can gradually get worse with long periods of exposure to carbon monoxide, leading to a delay in diagnosis.
Most people with a mild exposure to carbon monoxide experience headaches, fatigue, and nausea. Unfortunately, the symptoms are easily overlooked because they are often flu-like.
Unfortunately, the symptoms of CO poisoning are subtle and nonspecific. When CO poisoning is mild, it can go unrecognized, as its symptoms can mimic those of other illnesses. As a general rule, as the level of CO in the blood (carboxyhemoglobin [COHgb]) increases, so does the severity of symptoms.
To confirm the diagnosis, the health care team might test a blood sample for carbon monoxide. This test should be done as soon as possible after removing the person from the suspected exposure environment. But the test shouldn't delay treatment.
Health hazards
Natural gas also produces the byproduct of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), an air pollutant that can reduce lung function, cause inflammation of airways, increase asthma attacks, and exacerbate other respiratory issues, according to the American Lung Association.
With correct installation and use, natural gas is safe and convenient. However, gas leaks can occur in the home and elsewhere. A leak can lead to physical symptoms. In some cases, it can cause carbon monoxide poisoning in people and animals.
If you suspect a leak:
Leave immediately. Move to a safe place, at least 300 feet away. Do not try to turn off your gas meter. Warn others to stay away from the area.
Is a small gas leak dangerous? Yes, it is. A small gas leak can still catch on fire and trigger an explosion from another fire source or electrical spark.