ABSTRACT

Sewer systems fall into the category "out of sight, out of mind" – they seldom excite interest. But when things go wrong with the air in the sewer system, they go very wrong. Consequences can be dramatic and devastating: sewer workers killed instantly by poisonous gas when they lift a sewer lid, or entire suburban blocks levelled by explosions. This book describes the atmospheric dangers commonly found in the sewer system. It provides easily-understood explanations of the science behind the hazards, combined with real-life examples of when things went dramatically wrong.

chapter 1|4 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|12 pages

Confined Spaces

chapter 3|24 pages

Hydrogen Sulfide, Part 1: The Macro View

chapter 4|34 pages

Hydrogen Sulfide, Part 2: Toxicology

chapter 5|26 pages

Biomarkers for Hydrogen Sulfide Poisoning

chapter 6|10 pages

Methane and Natural Gas

chapter 9|22 pages

Other Vapors or Gases

chapter 10|22 pages

Biological Hazards

chapter 11|14 pages

Viral Hepatitis

chapter 12|8 pages

Leptospirosis/Weill’s Disease

chapter 13|14 pages

Exercises