Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Ambient hydrogen sulfide, total reduced sulfur, and hospital visits for respiratory diseases in northeast Nebraska, 1998–2000

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 14, pages 180–187 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

This analysis examined associations between total reduced sulfur (TRS) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) levels, and hospital visits for respiratory disease among residents of Dakota City and South Sioux City, Nebraska, from January 1998 to May 2000. For reference, the association between TRS, H2S, and digestive diseases was also examined. Time-series analyses of daily hospital visits in the selected outcome categories and measures of TRS and H2S were performed using generalized additive models with a Poisson link. TRS and H2S levels were categorized as high if at least one of the daily 30-min rolling averages was ≥30 ppb and as low if every rolling average was <30 ppb. Loess smoothers allowed for flexible modeling of the time effect and the effect of temperature and relative humidity. The measure of association used was the mean percent change in the average number of hospital visits recorded following a day with a high exposure versus a day with a low exposure. For children less than 18 years of age, a positive association was found between asthma hospital visits and 1-day lagged TRS levels. For adults, a positive association was found between asthma hospital visits and H2S levels on the previous day. A positive association also was found between hospital visits for all respiratory diseases, and H2S and TRS levels on the previous day for children but not for adults. No association was found between contaminant levels and hospital visits for all digestive diseases. These findings suggest that TRS or H2S levels may be associated with exacerbations of asthma or other respiratory diseases among the residents of Dakota City and South Sioux City.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

References

  • ATSDR. Exposure investigation for Dakota City/South Sioux City: hydrogen sulfide in ambient air. US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, 1997.

  • ATSDR. Toxicological profile for hydrogen sulfide. US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, 1999.

  • Bates M.N., Garrett N., Graham B., Read D . Air pollution and mortality in the Rotorua geothermal area. Aust NZ J Public Health 1997: 21: 581–586.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bates M.N., Garrett N., Graham B., Read D . Cancer incidence, morbidity and geothermal air pollution in Rotorua, New Zealand. Int J Epidemiol 1998: 27: 10–14.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bates M.N., Garrett N., Shoemack P . Investigation of health effects of hydrogen sulfide from a geothermal source. Arch Environ Health 2002: 5: 405–411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhambhani Y., Burnham R., Snydmiller G., MacLean I . Effects of 10-ppm hydrogen sulfide inhalation in exercising men and women. Cardiovascular, metabolic, and biochemical responses. J Occup Environ Med 1997: 39: 122–129.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dales R.E., Spitzer W.O., Suissa S., Schechter M.T., Tousignant P., Steinmetz N . Respiratory health of a population living downwind from natural gas refineries. Am Rev Respir Dis 1989: 139: 595–600.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dominici F., McDermott A., Zeger S.L., Samet J.M . On the use of generalized additive models in time-series studies of air pollution and health. Am J Epidemiol 2002: 156: 193–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg M.S., Bailar III J.C., et al. Identifying subgroups of the general population that may be susceptible to short-term increases in particulate air pollution: a time series study in Montreal, Quebec. Health Effects Institute, Cambridge, 122pp. Available from URL: http://www.healtheffects.org/pubs-research.htm, 2000.

  • Haahtela T., Marttila O., Vilkka V., Jappinen P., Jaakkola J.J . The South Karelia Air Pollution Study: acute health effects of malodorous sulfur air pollutants released by a pulp mill. Am J Public Health 1992: 82: 603–605.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hagen J.A., Nafstad P., Skrondal A., Bjorkly S., Magnus P . Associations between outdoor air pollutants and hospitalization for respiratory diseases. Epidemiology 2000: 11: 136–140.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hessel P.A., Herbert F.A., Melenka L.S., Yoshida K., Nakaza M . Lung health in relation to hydrogen sulfide exposure in oil and gas workers in Alberta, Canada. Am J Ind Med 1997: 31: 554–557.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Inserra S., Phifer B., Pierson R., Compagna D . Community-based exposure estimation for hydrogen sulfide. J Expo Anal Environ Epidemiol 2002: 12: 124–129.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Insightful Corporation. Plus v. 6.1. Insightful Corporation, Seattle, 2002.

  • Jaakkola J.J., Partti-Pellinen K., Marttila O., Miettinen P., Vilkka V., Haahtela T . The South Karelia Air Pollution Study: changes in respiratory health in relation to emission reduction of malodorous sulfur compounds from pulp mills. Arch Environ Health 1999: 54: 254–263.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jaakkola J.J., Vilkka V., Marttila O., Jappinen P., Haahtela T . The South Karelia Air Pollution Study. The effects of malodorous sulfur compounds from pulp mills on respiratory and other symptoms. Am Rev Respir Dis 1990: 142: 1344–1350.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jappinen P., Vilkka V., Marttila O., Haahtela T . Exposure to hydrogen sulphide and respiratory function. Br J Ind Med 1990: 47: 824–828.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Legator M.S., Singleton C.R., et al. Health effects from chronic low-level exposure to hydrogen sulfide. Arch Environ Health 2001: 56: 123–131.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marttila O., Jaakkola J.J., Partti-Pellinen K., Vilkka V., Haahtela T . South Karelia Air Pollution Study: daily symptom intensity in relation to exposure levels of malodorous sulfur compounds from pulp mills. Environ Res 1995: 71: 122–127.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Milby T.H., Baselt R.C . Health hazards of hydrogen sulfide: current status and future directions. Environ Epidemiol Toxicol 1999a: 1: 262–269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milby T.H., Baselt R.C . Hydrogen sulfide poisoning: clarification of some controversial issues. Am J IndMed 1999b: 35: 192–195.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mostaghni A.A., Nabipour I., Dianat M., Hamidi B . Pulmonary symptoms and spirometric values in Kangour sour gas refinery workers. Arch Environ Health 2000: 55: 297–299.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Partti-Pellinen K., Marttila O., Vilkka V., Jaakkola J.J., Jappinen P., Haahtela T . The South Karelia air pollution study: effects of low-level exposure to malodorous sulfur compounds on symptoms. Arch Environ Health 1996: 51: 315–320.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson D.B . Respiratory effects of chronic hydrogen sulfide exposure. Am J Ind Med 1995: 28: 99–108.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz J . Air pollution and hospital admissions for respiratory disease. Epidemiology 1996: 7: 20–28.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz J . Air pollution and hospital admissions for heart disease in eight U.S. counties. Epidemiology 1999: 10: 17–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tolbert P.E., Mulholland J.A., MacIntosh D.L., Xu F., Daniels D., Devine O.J., Carlin B.P., Klein M., Dorley J., Butler A.J., Nordenberg D.F., Frumkin H., Ryan P.B., White M.C., Air quality and pediatric emergency room visits for asthma in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Am J Epidemiol 2000: 151: 798–810.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • USEPA. EQSA List of Designated Reference and Equivalent Methods. USEPA, Research Triangle Park, 1997, 19pp.

  • White M.C., Inserra S.G., Berger S.A., Campagna D., Phifer B.L., Lybarber J.A . Health concerns for communities exposed to hydrogen sulfide. A perspective from two communities. Environ Epidemiol Toxicol 1999: 1: 236–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO. Hydrogen sulfide. Environmental health criteria No. 19, WHO, Geneva, 1981.

  • Zeger S.L., Thomas D., Dominici F., Samet J.M., Schwartz J., Dockery D., Cohen A . Exposure measurement error in time-series studies of air pollution: concepts and consequences. Environ Health Perspect 2000: 108: 419–426.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zellweger Analytics. Zellweger technical notes. Zellweger Analytics, Lincolnshire, 1995.

Download references

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the late Linda Modlin of Dakota City for her leadership and untiring efforts with community involvement. We thank Sella Burchette from EPA ERT for H2S monitoring, the University of Nebraska for Concord meteorological data, and local hospitals for providing the diagnostic data. This study was supported in whole by the Comprehensive Response, Compensation, and Liability Act trust fund.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Health Studies, Health Investigations Branch, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Dave Campagna, Steven J Kathman, Steven G Inserra, Betty L Phifer, Dannie C Middleton & Mary C White

  2. Lockheed Martin Corporation, REAC AirGroup, Edison, 08837-3679, New Jersey, USA

    Ray Pierson

  3. Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, Exposure Investigations Branch, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Gregory M Zarus

Authors
  1. Dave Campagna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Steven J Kathman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ray Pierson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Steven G Inserra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Betty L Phifer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Dannie C Middleton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Gregory M Zarus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Mary C White
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Steven G Inserra.

Additional information

No conflict of interest exists.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Campagna, D., Kathman, S., Pierson, R. et al. Ambient hydrogen sulfide, total reduced sulfur, and hospital visits for respiratory diseases in northeast Nebraska, 1998–2000. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 14, 180–187 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500313

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500313

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links