By Samantha Berlin
Writer, Trends
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
A woman from England saved her family from toxic fumes inside their home after noticing that her silver necklace had tarnished and turned black.
Lucy Toman, 22, said she had just come home from work when she noticed that her silver jewelry inside the home had all turned black.
The family also described a strange smell of "rotting egg and the smell of death." What they didn't realize was that the entire family had been inhaling toxic hydrogen sulfide for the past two days.
Read More
Reported ‘Gas Leak’ Emergency Turns Out to Be Stench of Strong-Smelling Fruit3 min read
Man Starts Talking in ‘Demonic Tongues’ After Inhaling ‘Satan Gas’3 min read
Boy With Cerebral Palsy Saves Family From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning3 min read
Toman remembered learning in one of her science classes that the toxic gas emitted a foul odor and also tarnished silver jewelry from oxidation. That's when the Toman family evacuated their house and called the fire department.
According to Lucy's mother, two fire engines, an ambulance, and several toxic control personnel came to the scene. She said they were there for about seven hours.
A common sign of the presence of hydrogen gas in one's home is a "sour aroma" similar to rotten eggs. Hydrogen sulfide is a highly flammable and toxic gas that is colorless. The gas is absorbed by the lungs and can lead to fatality if not caught early on, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
When people are exposed to hydrogen sulfide, they may experience difficulty breathing and may notice eye irritation as well as nausea and headache. It is important to evacuate a property if you believe there is hydrogen sulfide present because long exposure can lead to unconsciousness and death.
All the members of the family had their oxygen levels checked and received ECGs in the ambulance. But when the Toman family was transported to the hospital, blood tests showed that they were in the clear, although they had been exposed to the toxic gas for about 48 hours.
...
The family said at first they believed the strong odor was coming from one of their drains and even had pest control check out their home.
The Toman family was not able to return home until all traces of the gas were eradicated from inside. They are now sharing their story to warn other families about the signs of toxic gas.
According to the Department of Health, many hydrogen sulfide leaks within residential homes are due to faulty plumbing and pipes. In order to avoid a hydrogen sulfide leak, the DPH recommends ensuring that all plumbing and pipes within the home are installed properly and are correctly maintained.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines