Whitedamp

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).

Whitedamp is a noxious mixture of gases formed by the combustion of coal, usually in an enclosed environment such as a coal mine. The most toxic constituents are carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulphide. Coal frequently starts to burn slowly in mines when it is exposed to the atmosphere, and was traditionally detected by its effect on canaries, who succumb much more quickly than humans.

[edit] Detection

However, there are gas detectors available now which detect toxic gases at very low levels. The Levels of Gas Detection depend on the methods used.

[edit] References

  • JS Haldane and JG Priestley, Respiration, Oxford University Press, 2nd Ed (1935)

[edit] See also

Damps
Afterdamp • Blackdamp • Firedamp • Stinkdamp • Whitedamp
 This geology article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../w/h/i/Whitedamp.html"