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H2S ruled out of mysterious leak at Unity, Sask.

Many people in Unity, Sask., became ill on Jan. 2 after they were overcome by a mysterious odour.
Many people in Unity, Sask., became ill on Jan. 2 after they were overcome by a mysterious odour. Dayne Winter / Global News

Residents of Unity, Sask., can now breathe a sigh of relief.

An investigation into a gas leak at a nearby waste disposal facility has concluded that compounds in the air on the evening of Jan. 2 were not hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a potentially deadly gas.

READ MORE: This oilpatch town was overcome by a mysterious odour. Now its residents are asking, what made us sick?

In a release from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Economy, air samples show the emissions were a mixture of petroleum hydrocarbons and sulfur-based compounds and this would explain the symptoms residents said they experienced.

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According to the government, due to the low levels and short-term exposure to the compounds, no serious or long-term health effects are expected.

A full report on this incident is expected in the next several weeks and will outline what needs to be addressed to avoid a similar situation.

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Unity is approximately 175 kilometres west of Saskatoon.

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