Abstract

This report serves as a basis for the discussion aimed at the decision whether an integrated criteria document should be drawn up. Although world-wide only 10% of the emissions of hydrogen sulfide are of anthropogenic origin, in the Netherlands the contribution of anthropogenic sources to the total atmospheric emission is estimated at about 90%. Important industrial sources are food industry, furniture, chemical and metal industry. Other sources are agriculture and traffic. The contribution of traffic is expected to increase in the future. Risk assissment is seriously hampered by the lack of data on both exposure and effects. Available information indicates that hydrogen sulphide does not present a nation-wide problem. Locally problems may occur related to industrial, agricultural and urban sources. The nature of the problem is different for humans and ecosystems: for humans it is primarily an odour nuisance problem, for ecosystems it is toxicological (direct effects) and an ecological (indirect -acid rain- effects) problem. It is recommended to make an inventory of the environmental hydrogen sulphide concentrations in relation to sources in relevant industrial, agricultural and urban areas before deciding about the integrated criteria document.