What Are the Long-Term Impacts of a Gas Leak?
Gas leaks aren’t like water leaks, where you fix the pipe, clean up the mess, and the problem is solved. They’re an invisible and potentially lethal threat that can seep into your home and harm you and your loved ones in ways that can affect you for decades.
How Frequently Do Gas Leaks Happen in the U.S.?
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration reports that a gas pipeline incident occurs approximately every 40 hours somewhere in the U.S.
From 2010 through 2021, almost 2,600 pipeline incidents occurred involving gas releases serious enough to require federal reporting, with 328 resulting in explosions. These incidents killed 122 people and injured 603 others.
How To Detect a Gas Leak
One of the biggest problems with gas leaks is how hard they can be to detect — many go undetected for months or even years. Fortunately, there are some warning signs that you may have a gas leak in your home.
They include:
- Gradual changes in air quality
- Slow deterioration of building materials
- Plants dying without apparent cause
- Unexplained increases in utility bills
Additionally, some of those living in the home might display subtle health symptoms that mimic other conditions, such as disorientation and chronic fatigue.
The Potential Long-Term Impacts of a Gas Leak
The effects of gas exposure for long periods can be devastating. Here are some of the most notable:
Lingering Physical Symptoms
People often focus on the immediate symptoms of gas leaks, such as headaches, dizziness, and nausea.
However, the real damage happens over time through such conditions as:
- Brain damage from oxygen deprivation
- Chronic respiratory problems
- Heart damage
- Vision and hearing problems
- Memory loss and cognitive difficulties
These aren’t just temporary inconveniences. Studies indicate that exposure to natural gas can also cause permanent changes in brain chemistry.
Financial Implications
The costs of treating gas exposure injuries can add up quickly.
Victims often face immediate medical bills, along with the following long-term costs:
- Ongoing medical care
- Lost wages from an inability to work
- Home modifications for disability
- Continued therapy and rehabilitation
- Mental health treatment
If the gas leak happens in an apartment complex where many tenants are affected, it might lead to complex premises liability issues.
Property Damage
Gas leaks destroy property, too. This type of damage can include:
- Structural weakening
- Contaminated belongings
- Compromised electrical systems
- Soil contamination
- Foundation damage
When gas seeps into materials like drywall and insulation, the entire structure may need replacing, which can present construction accident risks during rebuilding projects.
Environmental Impacts
Gas leaks pose a severe environmental threat. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, methane has a warming potency of 80 times greater than that of carbon dioxide over a 20-year span.
Environmental consequences include:
- Formation of ground-level ozone, a hazardous air pollutant
- Acceleration of climate change effects
- Contribution to premature deaths from air pollution
- Damage to local ecosystems and wildlife
- Long-lasting atmospheric impacts
These characteristics make gas leaks a major contributor to climate change, accounting for roughly 30% of global warming since pre-industrial times.
Legal Implications
Property owners should make it a point to maintain safe conditions and respond quickly to gas leak reports. Failure to do so can lead to catastrophic injury claims. However, claimants must show that their specific health problems resulted from a gas leak rather than other factors.
The Potential Destruction of Gas Leaks
When gas leaks are detected, proper testing, prompt responsiveness, and thorough follow-up care are critical. Remember, even low-level exposure to natural gas can cause lasting neurological damage. As such, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention as soon as you notice something is wrong.
Contact The Rock Hill Personal Injury Lawyers At Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys For Help Today
For more information, please contact our Personal Injury lawyers in South Carolina at Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve York County, Lancaster County, and its surrounding areas:
Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys – Rock Hill Office
212 E Black St,
Rock Hill, SC 29730
(803) 324-7574
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204 A S Main St,
Lancaster, SC 29720
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Fort Mill, SC 29708
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Lake Wylie, SC 29710
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6 N Congress St,
York, SC 29745
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