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4. INFORMATION ABOUT CARBON MONOXIDE
WHAT IS CARBON MONOXIDE?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a highly toxic, invisible, odorless, tasteless gas.
HOW IS CO GENERATED?
Carbon monoxide is generated through incomplete combustion of fuel in various
appliances. Faulty ventilation of furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, wood burning
stoves, and space heaters are the major cause of high CO levels in a building.
Automobile and small engine exhaust are another source of CO.
HOW DOES CO POISON PEOPLE?
The human body depends on oxygen for the burning of fuel (food) to provide us with the
energy that allows our cells to live and function. Oxygen makes up approximately 21%
of the atmosphere and enters our lungs when we breathe. In our lungs the oxygen
combines with the hemoglobin in the blood (oxyhemoglobin), and is carried in the blood
stream throughout the body where it releases oxygen to the cells.
Carbon monoxide is dangerous because it bonds more tightly to the hemoglobin
(carboxyhemoglobin, COHb) than oxygen does. When CO combines with hemoglobin,
the hemoglobin's ability to combine with oxygen is lost. As the COHb concentration
rises, people become nauseous, unconscious and ultimately die (see below).
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING?
Many people often confuse carbon monoxide poisoning with the flu; the initial symptoms
being very similar. Different concentrations of CO over various lengths of time cause
different symptoms.
The following symptoms may be related to CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING and
should be discussed
with ALL members of the household
MILD EXPOSURE:
Slight headaches, nausea, vomiting, running nose, sore
eyes, fatigue (often described as “Flu-like” symptoms).
MEDIUM EXPOSURE:
Severe throbbing headache, dizziness, drowsiness,
confusion, fast heart rate.
EXTREME EXPOSURE:
Unconsciousness, convulsions, cardiorespiratory
failure, brain damage, death
Many cases of CARBON
MONOXIDE
POISONING
indicate that while victims
are aware they are not well,
they become so disoriented
that they are unable to save
themselves by either exiting
the building or calling for
assistance. Young children
and household pets are
typically the first affected
55%
50%
15%
10%
5%
0%
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
C
O
H
b
Time (minutes)
8 15 26 35 45 60 75 90 110 140
400 PPM CO GAS EXPOSURE
NONE
HEADACHE
HEADACHE
HEADACHE AND NAUSEA
DROWSY
VOMITING
COLLAPSE
COMA AND PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE
PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE - DEATH
NONE
