Latest Breaking News

Bosonic

(3,746 posts) Tue Jan 22, 2013, 02:05 PM Jan 2013

French Lubrizol factory struggles to stop foul gas leak

Source: BBC

Staff at a chemicals factory in north-western France are working to stop a gas leak that has spread a foul smell to Paris and south-east England.

French Ecology Minister Delphine Batho said she was heading for Rouen, where the factory is located, to oversee operations to deal with the leak.

Thousands of people, from as far away as Paris and London, have complained of nausea and headaches.

The gas is mercaptan, an additive to natural gas said to be harmless.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21147361

6 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

French Lubrizol factory struggles to stop foul gas leak (Original Post) Bosonic Jan 2013 OP

"said to be harmless." Shouldnt someone tell wiki? cstanleytech Jan 2013 #1

This message was self-deleted by its author guyton Jan 2013 #3

The gas is mercaptan, an additive to natural gas said to be harmless. Smilo Jan 2013 #2

That's what they told us about Orange, too. DollarBillHines Jan 2013 #5

Its the product which is added to otherwise odourless natural gas dipsydoodle Jan 2013 #4

I'd be more worried about it masking actual leaks. bluedigger Jan 2013 #6

cstanleytech

(26,320 posts)

1. "said to be harmless." Shouldnt someone tell wiki?

Reply to Bosonic (Original post)

Tue Jan 22, 2013, 02:11 PM

Jan 2013

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methanethiol

"At very high concentrations it is highly toxic and affects the central nervous system."

Response to cstanleytech (Reply #1)

guyton This message was self-deleted by its author.

Smilo

(1,944 posts)

2. The gas is mercaptan, an additive to natural gas said to be harmless.

Reply to Bosonic (Original post)

Tue Jan 22, 2013, 02:11 PM

Jan 2013

Will the person who said it is harmless, please step forward into this room full of said gas and we will leave you there for a few hours.

DollarBillHines

(1,922 posts)

5. That's what they told us about Orange, too.

Reply to Smilo (Reply #2)

Tue Jan 22, 2013, 02:36 PM

Jan 2013

Little fella came to Dong Ha, wearing a suit. We were all worked up after seeing the results on the ground.

Little shit poured some Orange in a glass and told us he could drink it with no ill effect.

One of the guys jumped up, whipped out his ACP and hollered, "So fucking drink it!"

That was the end of that.

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)

4. Its the product which is added to otherwise odourless natural gas

Reply to Bosonic (Original post)

Tue Jan 22, 2013, 02:31 PM

Jan 2013

so the smell of it indicates a leak. The main issue across three of our southern counties is that the gas board are now inundated with reports of gas leaks which they have to attend just in case.

Atmospheric levels have already been measured and the degree of concentration declared harmless.

bluedigger

(17,087 posts)

6. I'd be more worried about it masking actual leaks.

Reply to Bosonic (Original post)

Tue Jan 22, 2013, 02:52 PM

Jan 2013

People get used to it after a few hours and then don't notice a problem that is an immediate threat to them.

Reply to this discussion