Question

Is Sulphur Reducing bacteria is harmful?

Answer 1

The bacterium which reduces elemental sulphur into hydrogen sulphide gas is called sulphur reducing bacteria. The sulphur reducing bacteria use electrons from the inorganic sulphur to do activities like growth, respiration etc.

Complete step-by-step answer: - In the question it is asked is sulphur reducing bacteria is harmful.
- The sulphur reducing bacteria reduces elemental sulphur and forms hydrogen sulphide gas as the product.
- The product (hydrogen sulphide) formed is smelly (bad smell) like rotten egg smell.
- Therefore the sulphur reducing bacteria is going to reduce the elemental sulphur to hydrogen sulphide gas and releases into the environment.
- If a little amount of hydrogen sulphide is consumed by human beings we cannot find any serious issues.
- But, if hydrogen sulphide is released by the sulphur reducing bacteria is consumed highly by human beings then it leads to illness and nausea in extreme situations.
- If humans consume sulphur reducing bacteria there will be no such high impact due to the absence of elemental sulphur in the human bodies.
- Therefore in fewer amounts the sulphur reducing bacteria is not going to affect the life or health of human beings.

Note: In less amount of sulphur reducing bacteria is not going to affect the health of human beings. So there is a need to test the presence of hydrogen sulphide and sulphur reducing bacteria before we are going to use the water for drinking purposes.