AW: [ RadSafe ] TMI - reported "metallic taste"

[Jim Hardeman]

Bjorn et al. *
 
The primary "odor causing" effluents from kraft pulp & paper mills are collectively referred to as TRS ... "total reduced sulfur" ... and consist primarily of hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide. A mixture of these compounds can be detected by odor in air at concentrations down to 1-2 ppb (parts per billion) or 1,500 - 3,000 micrograms per cubic meter. These same compounds, in particular hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan, are produced naturally in the human mouth by the action of anaerobic bacteria near the back of the tongue (where the tongue senses sour, bitter and metallic tastes) ... giving rise to "bad breath". From what little information I've been able to find, it's likely that for persons who've been subject to chronic TRS exposures (such as folks who live near paper plants) olfactory fatigue may have dulled their ability to smell TRS compounds, but it is unlikely to have affected their ability to taste them. Legal limits on TRS compounds (where they exist, and if they were in place in Pennsylvania in 1979) would be far above the olfactory / taste threshold ... the most common limit I've seen is 10 ppb (15,000 ug/m^3) in any 30 minutes.
 
Don't know if this is "THE" answer, but it's a lot more plausible than any explanation involving tasting a few femptograms of iodine, or whatever the "explanation du jour" is.
 
My $0.02 worth ...
 
Jim Hardeman
Jim_Hardeman at dnr.state.ga.us

>>> "Bjorn Cedervall" <bcradsafers at hotmail.com> 2/14/2006 12:27:34 >>>


What does a paper plant do that results in rel. large releases of metals?

My personal comments only,

Bjorn Cedervall    bcradsafers at hotmail.com


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