Document ID (ISN) | 49739 |
CIS number |
88-975 |
ISSN - Serial title |
0015-2684 - Fire Technology |
Year |
1987 |
Convention or series no. |
|
Author(s) |
Stevens J.C., Cain W.S., Weinstein D.E., Pierce J.B. |
Title |
Aging impairs the ability to detect gas odor |
Bibliographic information |
Aug. 1987, Vol.23, No.3, p.198-204. Illus. 19 ref. |
Abstract |
Weakened smelling is common in age. Two studies here show that this phenomenon frequently reveals itself in an inability to detect ethyl mercaptan, the warning agent most commonly added to propane (LP-gas). The first study compared 21 young (18-25yrs) with 21 old (70-85yrs) persons for (a) detection threshold (average 10 times higher in the elderly), (b) suprathreshold odour strength (weaker for the elderly at all levels), and (c) ability to identify common odours (the elderly did worse). Seven of the 21 elderly failed to detect ethyl mercaptan at or above a concentration associated with the boundary between acceptable and unacceptable levels of propane. Three of these failed to detect the odorant at a concentration where accompanying propane could explode. In the second study 50 of 110 persons over 60yrs failed to detect odour reliably in commercial odorised propane diluted to the Department of Transportation's safety standard (one-fifth of the lower explosive limit). Six of 52 persons under 40 also failed. The elderly person would seem to be at high risk of LP-gas fires. |
Descriptors (primary) |
warning agents; age-linked differences; odour threshold; liquefied petroleum gas |
Descriptors (secondary) |
epidemiologic study; ethanethiol |
Document type |
D - Periodical articles |
Subject(s) |
Occupational pathology
|
Broad subject area(s) |
Fires, explosions and major hazards
|
Browse category(ies) |
Diseases of other sense organs (other than the eye and the ears)
|