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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)