() Six people were killed in Colorado earlier this month when they were exposed to gas from cow manure.

You might be asking how that’s possible? Well, local officials said the six victims died from exposure occurring in a confined space. The confined space was suspected to be a manure pit, which contained hydrogen sulfide.

Breathing in high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide can cause rapid unconsciousness and “nearly instant death,” according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

So, how common are manure pit deaths? What symptoms come from manure gas?

Manure gas deaths have increased over the years

Just last year, a study acknowledged that manure gas-related deaths in the United States had occurred over several years.

Eleven accidents involving livestock waste storage facilities were reported in 2022, with eight resulting in fatalities. From 1975 to 2021, 486 accidents occurred, and 59% of them ended in fatal incidents.

“This indicates that youth and less experienced farmers were more prone to agricultural-waste-related incidents,” the study said.

It was also revealed that some economic imports to farms actually increase sulfur levels in manure. Hydrogen sulfide may be left as a by-product of microbial degradation of sulfur compounds in storage.

“In working with the manure handling industry, I have come to realize that many instances of loss of consciousness or livestock loss go unreported,” added Robert Meinen, Pennsylvania Nutrient Management Education Program.

What symtpoms come from manure gas exposure

Anyone exposed to manure gas, which is a mixture of hydrogen sulfide and methane, can have their respiratory system paralyzed, leading to asphyxiation.

Other than asphyxiation, individuals can experience nausea, dizziness, altered breathing, and pulmonary edema depending on the amount of concentration inhaled from the gas.

“Lethal concentrations of H2S can be present in both full and emptied manure pits,” says the Center for Agricultural Health.

“Performing equipment maintenance and ‘quick entries’ to retrieve equipment have resulted in many fatalities across the country and around the world.”