Hydrogen sulfide « nuclear-news

Hydrogen sulfide present in Fukushima contaminated water tanks

January 7, 2019

Mako Oshidori reported from a recent TEPCO press conference that the company has admitted to finding hydrogen sulfide in some of the contaminated water tanks at Fukushima Daiichi.

The instances of hydrogen sulfide was found in newer welded tanks in the G3 tank farm in August.

TEPCO found levels up to 50 ppm in some of the tanks.

If it oxidizes to sulfuric acid it can corrode steel and concrete storage equipment including the water tanks.

TEPCO claims that the cause of the hydrogen sulfide gas was due to anaerobic bacterial decomposition. Hydrogen sulfide gas is a corrosion concern for the contaminated water tanks.

This is a problem from a human health standpoint for workers in the area. TEPCO cites a level of at least 50 ppm. They do not report the exact concentrations over 50 ppm. Health effects can happen at doses lower than 50 ppm. As exposure doses increase so do the health dangers. High concentrations can cause rapid death. With tanks creating this gas byproduct the risk exists of a worker accidentally coming in contact with a concentrated amount of this gas. Workers in the tank farms do not wear respirators, only paper particle filtration masks.

TEPCO stated they would continue to investigate the conditions in the on site tanks for gas and corrosion.

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