The health hazards of gas leakage are dangerous. From dizziness to explosions, gas leakage can be fatal. We believe that gas leakage is only dangerous because it can cause fire and explosions; however, that is not true!
Natural gas is hazardous to human health in many different ways. It can cause a variety of illnesses and health conditions even in small quantities.
Let me tell you about the dangers and health impact of a leaking gas today. Read carefully so that you can save your family from its adverse impacts. So, let’s begin:
Symptoms of Minor Gas Leakage
Be it a blocked air vent or a gas stove issue, even a slight leak can start causing harm to your health.
Some of these symptoms include:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Red lips
- Chest pain
- Low appetite
- Nosebleeds
- Ringing noise in the air
- Mood swings
- Breathing difficulties
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Throat and eye irritation
- Pale skin
If there are pets in your home, these innocent creatures will also have an adverse impact. Their symptoms are:
- Sore throat
- Vomiting
- Disorientation
- Breathing problem
- Watery eyes
- Behavioral changes
Symptoms of Major Gas Leakage
These symptoms get intensified if there is a major leakage. Some other symptoms include:
- Hissing sound near the pipeline
- Rotten egg or Sulphur smell
- White cloud appearance near the pipeline
Remember, we should never ignore a gas leaking issue. This can cause death or make us seriously ill. Some pets even die or may become unconscious if there is a major leak in the house. Additionally, many people lose their homes due to gas explosions. Pipeline repairs, which are common after a gas explosion, are also expensive.
Note: Whenever you suspect a gas leakage, immediately evacuate the house and call the fire department.
Tip: Paste the emergency numbers on one of your house walls.
Understanding the Cause of a Gas Leakage
Gas pipelines are made of different materials. Depending upon the quality, they start to corrode with time, resulting in leakage. Besides this, the installation of pipes by an incompetent professional also results in leakage. Therefore, always make sure that you hire a highly experienced professional for this job.
Furthermore, regular inspection of the gas pipelines along with appliances is mandatory. After this inspection, you receive a gas certificate that ensures no leakage in the house. During the evaluation, if the professional detects any minor leaks or damages, it gets fixed. Consequently, you are saved from a bigger hurdle.
Note: After a natural calamity like earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc., gas leaks are common.
The Hazards of a Gas Leak
- Poisoning Through Carbon Monoxide
When natural gas burns incompletely, it releases carbon monoxide. This is so harmful that we can immediately become fatal. To be on the safe side, follow the below precautionary measures:
- Never use stoves for heating your home.
- Never use outdoor gas stoves inside the house.
- When using a space heater, make sure that there is someone for monitoring.
- Avoid running generators in an enclosed area.
Carbon monoxide alarms are also available in the market. They can notify you whenever there is carbon monoxide in the house. This type of device is helpful, especially if you have kids at home.
- Fire Hazard
Natural gas can also cause a fire if it remains unnoticed for a long time. This fire explosion can also cause an explosion of other gas appliances like heaters, stoves, clothes dryers, etc.
- Impact on Skin
Besides other dangers, natural gas can also cause harmful impacts on your skin. The skin can become pale, and blisters start appearing. Additionally, skin numbness is another problem due to gas leakage. If any of these skin issues arise suddenly, call a professional to check your gas pipelines.
- Oxygen Deficiency
When natural gas is in the air, and the house is not ventilated, deficiency of oxygen occurs in the house. This can cause breathing problems and drops down the heart rate. Another problem is hypoxia that can become life-threatening.
This lack of oxygen is also harmful to the plants. If there are plants in your house, they will start dying gradually during a gas leakage. When there is natural gas in the house, it resists the plant roots to absorb oxygen. Therefore, plants become yellowish and stunted.
Key Tips During a Gas Leakage
- Never keep the doors closed; open all windows and doors for ventilation.
- Do not use any source of ignition.
- Never try to fix the issue if you do not have any experience in it.
- Take immediate action for calling the professional.
What To Do After a Gas Leak?
Even if the issue is fixed, make sure that you get all other appliances and burners thoroughly checked. Besides this, pay special attention to the outer pipelines. Now, when you are returning home, make sure to open all the windows.
Precautionary Measures
This mishap of gas leakage can occur with anyone and at any time. Therefore, we need to be highly aware of the precautions. Some of the useful precautions are listed below:
- Never compromise on the quality of gas pipes.
- Make sure to get your house inspected by a certified professional.
- Create a contingency plan and let everyone in the house know about it.
These tips can be life-saving for many of us.
Now You Know the Hazards of a Gas Leak
In short, natural gas leakage is a serious issue and should be addressed immediately. Sometimes a minor gas leak can augment and become severe in no time. Therefore, whenever you suspect a gas leak, always shut the valve off and call a professional.
From headaches, dizziness, and fatigue to nausea and skin issues, gas leaking issues can cause multiple health problems. It can even cause fire explosions and take our precious lives. Furthermore, it is equally harmful to the plants and pets at home.
Do not put your life at risk; get a regular inspection and stay safe.
Read more: The 6 best gas grills under $500 in 2021
