Why is hydrogen safe?
• Like any fuel, hydrogen requires proper handling and a safe system design for production, storage and usage. In general, hydrogen, if properly handled, is as safe as gasoline, diesel or natural gas and, in some instances, safer. For decades, hydrogen has been shipped and used safely in the U.S. for use in everything from welding to hydrogenated peanut butter. Over 70 million gallons of hydrogen are transported on the country’s highways every year without any major problems. Hydrogen is the most common element in the universe, and it’s also the lightest – even lighter than helium. So if there’s a leak in a hydrogen tank, it dissipates quickly into the air without polluting.
