Common Hazardous Gases

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste, or smell, carbon monoxide can kill you before you are aware of your exposure. At lower levels of exposure, carbon monoxide causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea, and fatigue. The effects of carbon monoxide exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health, and the concentration and length of exposure. More information about carbon monoxide in the maritime industry can be found under CFR 1917.24.

Carbon monoxide is found in combustion exhaust, such as that produced by cars, trucks, small boats, large ships, and small gasoline engines (generators).

Ethylene Oxide

Ethylene oxide is a colorless, flammable gas or liquid that has an ether-like odor. Ethylene oxide is primarily used to make industrial cleaners in the maritime industry.

Exposure symptoms include peculiar taste, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and drowsiness. Chronic exposure can increase risk of leukemia.

Methane

Methane is an odorless, colorless, and highly flammable gas that can accumulate in hazardous amounts in confined spaces. Methane is an asphyxiant, meaning high concentrations can displace oxygen in the air and cause suffocation. Methane is sometimes used in fuel, but it can leak into the atmosphere, posing a risk to workers in the area.

Low concentrations of methane are not harmful. Direct contact with the liquefied gas can freeze or chill the skin, potentially causing frostbite.

Vinyl Chloride

Vinyl chloride is colorless gas that has a pleasant odor at high concentrations. Symptoms of vinyl chloride exposure include weakness, exhaustion, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, and enlarged liver. Exposure to vinyl chloride increases risk for liver cancer.

Most of the vinyl chloride produced in the United States is used to make polyvinyl chloride, a material used to manufacture a variety of plastic and vinyl products including pipes, wire and cable coatings, and packaging materials. Vinyl chloride is often transported on cargo ships. When not properly stored, leaks can occur, which puts shipyard workers at risk for toxic exposure.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a nearly colorless flammable gas with a pungent, suffocating odor. It is used mainly to produce resins used in particleboard products and as a chemical intermediate in the synthesis of other chemicals.

Exposure to formaldehyde can result in irritation of the eyes and respiratory system, coughing, wheezing, and allergic contact dermatitis. Longer term exposure is linked to nasal cancer.

To learn more about Shipyard Chemical Hazards visit our Shipyard Chemical Hazards & Toxic Substances Online Training web page.