National Pollutant Inventory

Substances

Hydrogen sulfide: Environmental effects

Description

Hydrogen sulfide has high acute (short-term) toxicity to aquatic life, birds, and animals. Insufficient data are available to evaluate the acute toxicity of hydrogen sulfide on plants on land. Insufficient data are available to evaluate the chronic toxicity of hydrogen sulfide to plants, birds or animals.

Entering the environment

Hydrogen sulfide will be in the atmosphere as a gas. It will be dispersed depending upon where the air currents carry it. It breaks down in the air in a few days.

Where it ends up

Hydrogen sulfide enters the environment from both natural and human processes. Almost all the releases are to the air, where it exists in the gas phase. In the air it will react with other chemicals to be broken down, it will usually be broken down in about three days.

Environmental guidelines

No national guidelines.

Key

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Factory. Credit: Michael Lindquist