Carbon Monoxide (CO)

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What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous, colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. Although it has no detectable odor, CO is often mixed with other gases that do have an odor. So, you can inhale carbon monoxide right along with gases that you can smell and not even know that CO is present. CO is a common hazard resulting from the incomplete burning of natural gas and any other material containing carbon such as gasoline, kerosene, oil, propane, coal, or wood. Furnaces, ovens, fireplaces, and internal combustion engines all produce CO.

How does CO harm you?

Carbon monoxide is harmful when breathed because it displaces oxygen in the blood and deprives the heart, brain, and other vital organs of oxygen. Large amounts of CO can overcome you in minutes without warning—causing you to lose consciousness and suffocate. Besides tightness across the chest, initial symptoms of CO poisoning may include headache, fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness, or nausea. Sudden chest pain may occur in people with angina. During prolonged or high exposures, symptoms may worsen and include vomiting, confusion, and collapse in addition to loss of consciousness and muscle weakness. Symptoms vary widely from person to person. CO poisoning may occur sooner in those most susceptible: young children, elderly people, people with lung or heart disease, people at high altitudes, or those who already have elevated CO blood levels, such as smokers. Also, CO poisoning poses a special risk to fetuses. CO poisoning can be reversed if caught in time. But even if you recover, acute poisoning may result in permanent damage to the parts of your body that require a lot of oxygen such as the heart and brain. Significant reproductive risk is also linked to CO.

Health and Environmental Impacts of CO
Carbon monoxide can cause harmful health effects by reducing oxygen delivery to the body's organs (like the heart and brain) and tissues.

	Cardiovascular Effects. The health threat from lower levels of CO is most serious for those who suffer from heart disease, like angina, clogged arteries, or congestive heart failure. For a person with heart disease, a single exposure to CO at low levels may cause chest pain and reduce that person's ability to exercise; repeated exposures may contribute to other cardiovascular effects.
	Central Nervous System Effects. Even healthy people can be affected by high levels of CO. People who breathe high levels of CO can develop vision problems, reduced ability to work or learn, reduced manual dexterity, and difficulty performing complex tasks. At extremely high levels, CO is poisonous and can cause death.
	Respiratory Effects. CO can trigger serious respiratory problems. People with asthma and other breathing problems can be effected at low levels.

A Few Words About CO Detectors

A store purchased CO detector is better than nothing, but not much better… Some store bought CO detectors won’t alarm until 1½ hour exposure to 70 ppm or more of CO. Most store bought alarms wait 3½ hours at that exposure rate to alarm. The NSI Model 3000 that we sell monitors continuously (24/7), reads out CO levels down to 5ppm, and retail for $189.00. We sell them for $149.00 to our clients and customers who have had a CO Inspection, or $189.00 to the general public (CALL 847-340-0402 for more information).

It is important for you to know that the technology of CO detectors is still developing, that there are several types on the market, and that they are not generally considered to be as reliable as the smoke detectors found in homes today. Some CO detectors have been laboratory-tested, and their performance varied. Unlike a smoke detector, where you can easily confirm the cause of the alarm, CO is invisible and odorless, so it’s harder to tell if an alarm is false or a real emergency. GOOD Carbon Monoxide detectors are a nice back-up system --BUT NOT A REPLACEMENT for proper use and maintenance of your fuel-burning appliances. Have a CO Inspection performed regularly by our NCI certified staff.

So What’s a Consumer to Do?

First, don’t let buying a CO detector lull you into a false sense of security. Preventing CO from becoming a problem in your home is better than relying on an alarm and install a NSI Model 3000 Carbon Monoxide Alarm. Follow the checklist of DOs and DON’Ts. Carefully follow manufacturers’ instructions for its placement, use, and maintenance.

If the CO detector alarm goes off:

• Make sure it is your CO detector and not your smoke detector. 

• Check to see if any member of the household is experiencing symptoms of poisoning.

• If they are, get them out of the house immediately and seek medical attention. Tell the doctor that you suspect CO poisoning. If no one is feeling symptoms, ventilate the home with fresh air, turn off all potential sources of CO -- your oil or gas furnace, gas water heater, gas range and oven, gas dryer, gas or kerosene space heater and any vehicle or small engine.

• Have a qualified NCI certified technician inspect your fuel-burning appliances and chimneys to make sure they are operating correctly and that there is nothing blocking the fumes from being vented out of the house.

Prevention is the Key to Avoiding Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

	DO have your fuel-burning appliances -- including oil and gas furnaces, gas water heaters, gas ranges and ovens, gas dryers, gas or kerosene space heaters, fireplaces, and wood stoves -- inspected by a trained professional at the beginning of every heating season. Make certain that the flues and chimneys are connected, in good condition, and not blocked.
	DO choose appliances that vent their fumes to the outside whenever possible, have them properly installed, and maintain them according to manufacturers’ instructions.
	DO read and follow all of the instructions that accompany any fuel-burning device. If you cannot avoid using an unvented gas or kerosene space heater, carefully follow the cautions that come with the device. Use the proper fuel and keep doors to the rest of the house open. Open a window to ensure enough air for ventilation and proper fuel-burning.
	DO call EPA’s IAQ INFO Clearinghouse (1-800-438-4318) or the Consumer Product Safety Commission (1-800-638-2772) for more information on how to reduce your risks from CO and other combustion gases and particles.
	DON’T idle the car in a garage -- even if the garage door to the outside is open. Fumes can build up very quickly in the garage and living area of your home.
	DON’T use a gas oven to heat your home, even for a short time.
	DON’T ever use a charcoal grill indoors -- even in a fireplace.
	DON'T sleep in any room with an unvented gas or kerosene space heater.
	DON’T use any gasoline-powered engines (mowers, weed trimmers, snow blowers, chain saws, small engines or generators) in enclosed spaces.
	DON’T ignore symptoms, particularly if more than one person is feeling them. You could lose consciousness and die if you do nothing.

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