Mary Alice Reporting –
It’s that time of year again when conditions present for the possible release of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) at local lakes.
The Huntington District for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has released their first potential concern in the outlet works area at Leesville Lake.
H2S is a colorless gas, recognized by a “rotten egg” odor and symptoms could present based upon a person’s level and duration of exposure, including eye, nose, and throat irritation to dizziness, and fatigue. Young children are more at risk.
This problem is normally confined to the area adjacent to the outlet works and is not known to pose a problem to recreational users of the lakes. Levels will be monitored.
H2S forms when sulfate concentrates, during the summer months, are converted through microbial activity at the bottom layers of the lake.
Copyright WTUZ Radio Inc., 2023