Sewage Smell Toxic???

Question

I live in an apartment and my good friend lives in the house below. She hasn't been well and she has three children and I have a teenage son. Her sewage backed up to her bathtub. Her Dad is trying to get it fixed. Well, it isn't fixed yet. I was cleaning the bathroom after they turned the water back on and I noticed a smell coming from the toilet that smells like the smell in a porta pot. I need to know, is it dangerous if we all breathe in these toxins? I can't smell it in the bedroom. But, they are smelling it downstairs. I think she thinks I am offended by the smell but that's not it at all. I know that breathing in toxic fumes can sometimes skew our thinking and become toxic as well. Just making sure. Thanks so much!

Answer 1

Yes! Sewage backups may cause serious diseases. With all of the downstairs neighbors sick, there is cause for immediate action on fixing the situation and finding out what illnesses they have.

The owner of the property is responsible, but may have to be prodded into taking immediate actions since repairs can run into serious money. If the owner does not call the Water Department or the Police (non-emergency number), you are someone needs to do that now. This is to see if the problem is in the main sewer. If it is the water department will fix their part of the problem and advise you on fixing the home-owners part.

This is a two family house? It sounds like it to me, so that is what I will go by. From what you say, the fumes are now filtering up to your floor through some of the plumbing, ventilating, or other pathways between the two floors.

Sewer backup material is naturally unhealthy and carries various disease. Fumes are toxic, and while your backup fumes may be less so, living with them day and night in an enclosed space does raise the level of your inhaling them. .

I do not understand this stuff about "Her father is trying to get it fixed."? There is no TRYING now. The problem is now and must be fixed. This is a health issue and with kids involved it becomes an issue of endangering a child.

I know plumbers are expensive, but living in the sewer is going to be more expensive in the long run. Rather than ask if these fumes are toxic, you should assume there is a serious health risk and deal with the situation. Also, isn't the odor permeating clothing and furniture?

I understand you are friends of the folks downstairs, but they should not turn the house into a cesspool. If needbe, change your attitude and tell them the odor and health risks (you just learned about) are just tooooo much and will have to be cleaned up immediately.

Answer 2

I don't agree with Mike B at all. Sewer gas, methane, is a volatile and toxic gas, plumbers do not work in it all the time, I didn't and, wouldn't, not unless all the lines are cleared.
Why do you think they have a gas cover on the line in the basement drain, it's so the gases don't come into the basement. Another think, homes have blown up from these gases building up in basements, and, they can make you ill.

I would open the windows and get some fans going, then start cleaning up as much as possible, cover the lines that are the culprits. That will help.

Methane gas can and is used in certain areas to power automobiles and engines, right from the pile so, this should tell you something and, a new use for methane is home heating and cooling. Not toxic?

Answer 3

Generally it is not toxic. Plumbers work around sewage all the time and don't wear respirators. The smell is just offensive to most people.

Some people believe that there is enough methane in a household sewer line to cause a fire. This is just plain and old wives tale. If that were true septic tanks would be blowing up all the time and porta potties would be like bombs.

However in great concentrations sewer gases can be dangerous. Workers in parts of sewage treatment plants do wear respirators. Hydrogen sulfide is the main danger.

Answer 4

The gas you are smelling is hydrogen sulfide not methane. Methane it self does not smell, thats why coal mines explode, they cant smell any methane gas. the amount of hydrogen sulfide you would/are smelling wont hurt you. Hydrogen sulfide is deadly, but the concentration level at your place is no way near being dangerous. Its only dangerous when the levels rise in confind spaces then it becomes deadly. You wouldnt know if it was that high as you would pass out and die very quickly. Just call in a real plumber and open up some windows and use bleach to disinfect everything when its all fixed.

Answer 5

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RE:
Sewage Smell Toxic???
I live in an apartment and my good friend lives in the house below. She hasn't been well and she has three children and I have a teenage son. Her sewage backed up to her bathtub. Her Dad is trying to get it fixed. Well, it isn't fixed yet. I was cleaning the bathroom after they turned...

Answer 6

Sewer Gas Health Risks

Answer 7

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We can probably rule out the supply ducts pulling in the odors, as the ducts are positively-pressurized and tend to push paricles away from potential leaks in the system. Let's focus in on the return air side: Sewage odors are readily identifiable and have only one source: sewer gas. What we have to find is the connection between the negative air pressure (or suction) of your return air and your waste lines for your plumbing system. The return air supply will often consist of a chamber that the air handler sits on, with air entering through a filtered access door. Or, there may be one or more ducts from different locations in the home being fed back to a "return air riser", or a column built of fiberglass duct to direct air to the air handler. In any event, your pvc piping that carries the waste will have vent stacks that go up and penetrate your roof. A bad joint in one of these lines, in proximity to a return air duct, would create the scenario you describe. There is a possibility that someone piped your condensate drain into the waste system for drainage. The condensate drain is under negative pressure, and can draw fumes from the waste system directly into your air handler and distribute the offensive aroma. If any part of the return air chamber abuts any part of your sewer system (lines below the home, for example) the possibility for "cross-contamination" is high. The return air system must be tightly sealed to prevent intrusion from any unwanted source. I doubt you are dealing with mold contamination, although there is one thing to consider: some molds off-gas ammonia, which is also common in sewer gas. A careful inspection of the equipment for mold and/or stagnant water might be worthwhile. Double- check your garage for any chemicals, insecticides, gasoline, and otherwise foul-smelling items that may be drawn into the return air through small leaks. Many of my clients place their toxic materials outside in a plastic closet to insure no poison finds its way into the airstream of the home. One client had what they thought was a serious mold problem. It was a very heavy, pungent odor with a slight chemical and biological smell. The culprit proved to be Orthene ant powder , in a can in the garage with a closed lid. Still, the fumes wrangled their way into the air stream. Hopefully I've hit upon something here that will help. Good luck and God bless you!

Answer 8

Pool your money with your friend and call in a professional. Her dad has good intentions, but he's risking everyone's health and safety. As far as breathing it, a heavy concentration could cause you to become lightheaded, nauseous, and even kill you. It happens to sewer workers sometimes. Keep the air moving by opening windows.. The worst part is that the sewer gas can build up in the house and a flame or spark could be bad news. It will blow up !!

Answer 9

It is not good for you if the concentration is great enough. What you are smelling is methane, a gas that is given off when something organic rots. What most people don`t know is that in great enough concentrations it is flammable/explosive. I doubt if the concentrations in your house are of this level, but I would be careful.
P.S. If someone doesn`t believe it`s explosive, just contact Louisville, Ky. Their sewers exploded from the gas several years ago, and tore up several streets.

Answer 10

Yeah, just remember the scene at the end of "Christmas Vacation" when, shoot, can't remember name, is smoking by the sewer outside where he has been emptying his sewage from his camper.....it blew up and santa and his sleigh flew away in the night moon