Whitedamp is a noxious mixture of gases formed by thecombustion of coal, usually in an enclosed environment such as acoal mine. The main, most toxic constituent iscarbon monoxide,[1] which causescarbon monoxide poisoning.Hydrogen sulfide, also calledstinkdamp, may co-occur. Coal frequently starts toburn slowly in mines when it is exposed to theatmosphere;partial combustion produces carbon monoxide. The term is etymologically and practically related to terms for other underground mine gases such asfiredamp,black damp, stink damp, andafterdamp.
The meaning of "damp" in this term, while most commonly understood to imply humidity, presents evidence of having been separated from that newer, irrelevant meaning at least by the first decade of the 18th century, where the original relevant meaning of "vapor" derives from a Proto-Germanic origin,dampaz, which gave rise to its immediate English predecessor, the Middle Low Germandamp (with no record of an Old English intermediary). The proto-Germanicdampaz gave rise to many other cognates, including the Old High Germandamph, the Old Norsedampi, and the modern GermanDampf, the last of which still translates as "vapor".[2]
Historically, whitedamp (specifically carbon monoxide) was detected by its effect oncanaries, who succumb much more quickly than humans. However, there are nowgas detectors available;[when?] these detect toxic gases at very low levels. The levels of gas detection depend on the gas and methods used.Carbon monoxide detectors are common in homes.
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