Brain Robber: The Poisoning of America by Rotten Egg Gas

By Kaye H. Kilburn

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), popularly known as "rotten egg gas" for its unmistakable stink and as "poison gas" for its lethal properties, is the most common toxic air pollutant found in urban and rural communities across America. Seventy-four American industries, especially oil and natural gas facilities and factory farms, emit H2S in volumes and concentrations sufficient to pose a public health risk. In homes, workplaces, and communities across North America especially poor neighborhoods near oil refineries, factories, dumps, and confined animal feeding operations H2S poisons thousands of people every day. The victims of hydrogen sulfide poisoning suffer a range of irreversible brain damage from concealed brain damage associated with measurable dysfunctions in balance, vision, reaction time, hearing, memory, and problem solving ability to catastrophic brain damage resulting in stupefaction, coma, or death. The central nervous system and organs especially the brain, lungs, heart, gastrointestinal tract, and mucosa are harmed by inhalation of H2S or oral ingestion of water contaminated by H2S. Even in low concentrations, H2S damages DNA and kills brain neurons. The good news is that the technology exists to contain and neutralize harmful emissions of H2S in all industrial settings. The bad news is that, thanks to the lobbying clout of the oil and gas industry, this notorious "brain robber" is not even listed as a hazardous air pollutant by the Environmental Protection Agency. Every American should be alarmed about the personal risks as well as the social costs of hydrogen sulfide poisoning. Sources of rotten egg gas presenting both chronic and acute public health and occupational health hazards to human brains and lungs are ubiquitous in the United States. Industrial emitters of hazardous levels of H2S are present in every state in America and the silent but stinky killer can strike any American home. In adults, intensity and duration of H2S exposure correlate positively with impaired brain function and shortened life span. Hydrogen sulfide poisoning in America is an environmental injustice issue, since it exacts the highest toll on certain vulnerable groups: children under the age of five, the elderly, sick people, poor people, and disadvantaged minorities. Dr. Kilburn, who is recognized as the pioneer and foremost authority on the medical, occupational, and environmental aspects of hydrogen sulfide poisoning, identifies the practical and necessary steps that must be taken to save American lives and brains from the insidious and ubiquitous ravages of hydrogen sulfide poisoning. The first and definitive work on the subject, "Brain Robber" is addressed to all ordinary Americans at risk, as well as to policymakers and scientists. It could not be more timely or more pertinent to the impending showdown between public health advocates and the oil and gas lobby."

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0313383065
• ISBN13: 9780313383069
• Release Date: January 2011
• Publisher: Praeger Pub Text
• Length: 260 Pages
• Weight: 1.74 lbs.