Carbon Monoxide

What Is It?
Health Effects
Protecting Yourself From CO Poisoning
About CO Detectors
What To Do If The Alarm Goes Off

"Any fuel-burning appliance that is not adequately vented and maintained can be a potential source of carbon monoxide."

WHAT IS IT?

Carbon monoxide is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned. Exposure to CO reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen. If appliances that burn fuel are maintained and used properly, the amount of CO produced is usually not hazardous. However, if appliances are not working properly or are used incorrectly, dangerous levels of CO can result. Hundreds of people die accidentally every year from CO poisoning caused by malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning appliances.

HEALTH EFFECTS

Breathing low levels of CO can cause shortness of breath, mild nausea, and mild headaches, and may have longer term effects on your health. Since many of these symptoms are similar to those of the flu, food poisoning, or other illnesses, you may not think that CO poisoning could be the cause. Breathing higher levels of carbon monoxide causes flu-like symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and weakness in healthy people. Carbon monoxide also causes sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and disorientation. At very high levels, it causes loss of consciousness and death. Nearly 300 people die every year from carbon monoxide exposure related to residential combustion appliances, and thousands of others become ill or seek medical attention.

PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM CO POISONING

Any fuel-burning appliance that is not adequately vented and maintained can be a potential source of CO, including:

• gas appliances (furnaces, ranges, ovens, water heaters, clothes dryers, etc.)
• fireplaces, wood and coal stoves, space heaters, charcoal grills, automobile exhaust fumes, camp stoves, gas-powered lawn mowers, and power tools

Preventing carbon monoxide poisoning from exposure to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in the home is possible by taking some simple steps:

• Make sure appliances are installed and working according to manufacturers' instructions and local building codes.
• Have only a qualified technician install or convert fuel-burning equipment from one type to another.
• Have the heating system, chimney and flue inspected and cleaned by a qualified technician every year.
• Do not use ovens and gas ranges to heat your home.
• Do not burn charcoal inside a home, cabin, recreational vehicle or camper.
• Do not operate gasoline-powered engines in confined areas such as garages or basements.
• Never leave your car or mower running in a closed garage.
• Make sure your furnace has adequate intake of outside air.
• Choose vented appliances whenever possible.
• Use kerosene space heaters and unvented gas heaters only in well ventilated rooms.
• Install a carbon monoxide detector with an audible alarm in your home and garage.

 ABOUT CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS:

Carbon monoxide detectors should meet Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. standards; have a long-term warranty; and be easily self-tested and reset to ensure proper functioning. For maximum effectiveness during sleeping hours, carbon monoxide detectors should be placed as close to sleeping areas as possible.

WHAT TO DO 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 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.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information on carbon monoxide and indoor air quality in general, visit the US Environmental Protection Agency Indoor Environments Division website at www.epa.gov/iaq.

For more information on carbon monoxide detectors, visit the Consumer Products Safety Commission website at www.cpsc.gov, and look at their list of publications.