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Ethanethiol
Ethanethiol (ethyl mercaptan) is a sulfur-containing organic compound with a strong, unpleasant odor used as an odorant additive in natural gas for leak detection; not a food ingredient and not intended for ingestion.
Tracked contaminantUpdated Feb 7, 2026
Health score-4.0
-5Very bad5
Water guidelines
- Legal limit
- Not specified
- Health guideline
- Not specified
Food and supplement guidelines
- Legal limit
- Not specified
- Health guideline
- Not specified
Risks
Toxic if inhaled or ingested in significant amounts, respiratory irritation, skin and eye irritation, potential central nervous system effects in high exposure
Benefits
Effective odorant for safety detection of natural gas leaks