Afterdamp is the toxic mixture of gases left in a mine following an explosion caused by methane-rich firedamp, which itself can initiate a much larger explosion of coal dust.
Etymology
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 German
damp (with no record of an Old English intermediary). The proto-Germanic
dampaz gave rise to many other cognates, including the Old High German
damph, the Old Norse
dampi, and the modern German
Dampf, the last of which still translates as "vapor".
[Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of fire-damp. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved January 6, 2022, from this link.]
Detection
, such as
mice or
Domestic canary, are more sensitive to carbon monoxide than humans, so will give a warning to miners. Canaries were introduced into British collieries in the 1890s by John Scott Haldane, the noted physiologist.
are available now which detect toxic gases such as carbon monoxide at very low levels. They are widely available to protect domestic premises. The levels of gas detection depend on the methods used.
See also
Further reading
-
J S Haldane and J G Priestley, Respiration, Oxford University Press, 2nd ed. (1935)
