This excerpt is from a Queensland web page.  You can read the entire
article by clicking on the link below.

Peggy Murdock

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/pigs/4568.html

Over 40 different gases are produced in the decomposition of manure in all
non-aerated liquid manure storage systems. These include shallow shed
gutters, under-the-floor storage tanks and outdoor effluent dams. Of these
gases hydrogen sulphide is one of the most consequential, with many sudden
deaths resulting from the agitation and emptying of manure pits that have
not been emptied on a regular basis.

Hydrogen sulphide at a high concentration renders a person's sense of smell
useless and has immediate affect, causing unconsciousness, breathing
cessations, excess fluid on the lungs and death. The fact that hydrogen
sulphide is only detectable to humans at low concentration is due to its
paralysing effect on the nerve cells in the nose at moderate and high
levels. At this low, detectable level the entire respiratory tract and eyes
call be irritated, and the nervous, system depressed. While moderate levels
will cause severe illness.

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