Question

How does natural gas affect human health?

Answer 1

Natural gas exposure is a health risk only if the concentrations are very high.

Explanation:

At low exposure levels, natural gas is not harmful to human health. However, natural gas is odourless and tasteless, so utilities are required to add a chemical that gives it some smell so that the human nose can detect the gas if there is a leak.

At high exposure levels, oxygen to the brain is reduced and this can lead to dizziness, fatigue, nausea and even loss of consciousness or death.

The other major health hazard related to natural gas, or methane as its called, is that it is extremely flammable. This is often the more common accident wherein a methane leak goes undetected and someone lights a match or whatever and an explosion happens.