The Washington times., 1912-04-20
WATER GAS USED IN
I. THIS CITY IS MOST
DANGEROUS PRODUCT
Bureau Of Standards Finds
Carbon Monoxide Is
Poisonous.

There has been no legislative tendency
TO limit the carbon monoxide content to
gas, although there Is no doubt that
the danger 10 life is greater with the
use of gas of high carbon monoxide
content than with the use of gas con-
tanning a lower percentage of this SUBJ
stance. Carbon monoxide Is the only
constituent of Illuminating gas which,
In the amounts ordinarily found, is
poisonous"
This Is the finding of the Bureau OF
Standards of the Department of Com
merce and Labor after an exhaustive
investigation and inquify.
The significance of this finding, so far
as the people of Washington are con-
cerned, lies In the fact that both the
Washington and the Georgetown Gas
Light Companies are making water gas
They mix usually a minor per cent Of
coal gas with this water gas, according
to the inspector of gas and meters.
J. The Bureau of Standards finds that
Goal gas contains from 8 to 10 per
cent of carbon monoxide; water gas
! from % to 80 per cent. The limiting
of the amount of carbon monoxide in
the gas sold, therefore, may operate
1t is apparent that such regulations as
would prevent the operation of water
gas plants now in existence would be
very radical, but II Is worth while to
consider whether the extension of pres
ent plants should not be directed to-
ward increasing the use of coal gas
rather than of water gas
! The question as to the limitation of
the carbon monoXide content of the gas
distributed is based upon the fact that
this substance Is the only poisonous
constituent of Illuminating gas which is
present In large amount, and there Is
| from two to five times as much of II in
! water gas as in coal gas. Therefore
the use of water gas necessitates the
use of gas more poisonous in charac-
ter than coal gas. Just how far this
fact can be used as an argument for
restricting the use of water gas Is not
yet clear, but this bureau is attempting
to get such information as will give
some basis for a discussion as to the
Increased danger attending the use of
water gas over that attending the use
of coal gas
-'"At this time It is not amiss also to
point out some OF the facts which indi-
cate that the use of water gas may
possibly not be much more dangerous
than coal gas. Briefly stated, these
facts are as follows: A large proportion
of the cases of death or illness caused
irresponsible condition, such as drunk
engess, or to gross ignorance. and In
the majority of these cases the char
acter of the gas would perhaps have
only a small influence upon the serious
ness of the result. Another large num-
ber of deaths and cases of poisoning
called gas poisoning are due. not to the
gas itself but to the carbon monoxide
formed by combustion of the gas witt
insufficient supply of air, due to g
faulty appliance or in an appliance i'm
I properly set or connected with INSULT
cent or improper fiues. These matter:
all have an important bearing upon the
subject, and 1t is possible that the pro.
lection of the public from danger will
he found to lie rather along lines Of
regulation of appliance, form and set.
ting and general education of gas user:
as to the proper precautions than in the
limitations of the carbon monoxide con
tent of the gas itself: The bureau prob
ably will have further information tC
offer on this subject in the near future.