Carbon Monoxide (1203)

Each fall there is increasing concern about carbon monoxide poisoning. We all hear media reports of such poisoning that results in death. About 200 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning associated with faulty and inappropriate fuel-burning heating equipment.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced when any fuel is incompletely burned. Carbon monoxide can leak from faulty furnaces or fuel-fired heaters and can be trapped inside a blocked chimney or flue. Burning charcoal inside the house, heating the space with a gas oven, or running the car engine in an attached garage also will produce carbon monoxide in the home.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to flulike illnesses and include dizziness, fatigue, headaches, nausea and irregular breathing. The first line of defense against carbon monoxide exposure is to make sure that all heating appliances are working properly. Do not use gas ovens or charcoal to heat living space. Have your home heating system inspected yearly. The furnace, the electrical and mechanical components, thermostat control and automatic safety devices should be included in the inspection.

Exposure to a low concentration over several years can be as dangerous as exposure to high carbon monoxide levels for a few minutes. Properly working carbon monoxide detectors can provide an early warning before deadly gas builds up to a dangerous level. New detectors will detect both conditions.

Small, low-cost, passive monitors that change color in the presence of carbon monoxide are available. Other more accurate and more costly monitors are also available.

Each home should have at least one detector in the area outside the sleeping areas of the house or apartment. It is also recommended that you place one in the area on the ceiling near the furnace or heating system in a home. Most hardware stores carry both low-cost and moderate-cost detectors.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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