About Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and toxic gas produced as a by-product of combustion. Any fuel burning appliance, vehicle, tool or other
device has the potential to produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide gas. Examples of carbon monoxide producing devices commonly in use include:
fuel fired furnaces (non-electric) , fireplaces and woodstoves , gas stoves , gas dryers , charcoal grills , automobiles , and airplanes. Approximately 200
people per year are killed by accidental CO poisoning with an additional 5000 people injured. These deaths and injuries are typically caused by improperly
used or malfunctioning equipment.
Carbon monoxide inhibits the blood's ability to carry oxygen to body tissues including vital organs such as the heart and brain. When CO is inhaled, it
combines with the oxygen carrying hemoglobin of the blood to form carboxy-hemoglobin. Once combined with the hemoglobin, that hemoglobin is no longer
available for transporting oxygen. Compounding the effects of the exposure is the long half-life of carboxy-hemoglobin in the blood. For a given exposure
level, it will take about 5 hours for the level of carboxy-hemoglobin in the blood to drop to half its current level after the exposure is terminated.
CO toxicity levels are usually expressed in airborne concentration levels (PPM) and duration of exposure. Expressed in this way, symptoms of exposure can
be stated as follows:
Symptoms vary based on exposure level, and duration. Recurring symptoms that are significant to the recognition of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
headache, dizziness and nausea. These 'flu like' symptoms are often mistaken for a real case of the flu and can result in delayed or misdiagnosed treatment.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and toxic gas produced as a by-product of combustion. Any fuel burning appliance, vehicle, tool or other
device has the potential to produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide gas. Examples of carbon monoxide producing devices commonly in use include:
fuel fired furnaces (non-electric) , fireplaces and woodstoves , gas stoves , gas dryers , charcoal grills , automobiles , and airplanes. Approximately 200
people per year are killed by accidental CO poisoning with an additional 5000 people injured. These deaths and injuries are typically caused by improperly
used or malfunctioning equipment.
Carbon monoxide inhibits the blood's ability to carry oxygen to body tissues including vital organs such as the heart and brain. When CO is inhaled, it
combines with the oxygen carrying hemoglobin of the blood to form carboxy-hemoglobin. Once combined with the hemoglobin, that hemoglobin is no longer
available for transporting oxygen. Compounding the effects of the exposure is the long half-life of carboxy-hemoglobin in the blood. For a given exposure
level, it will take about 5 hours for the level of carboxy-hemoglobin in the blood to drop to half its current level after the exposure is terminated.
CO toxicity levels are usually expressed in airborne concentration levels (PPM) and duration of exposure. Expressed in this way, symptoms of exposure can
be stated as follows:
Symptoms vary based on exposure level, and duration. Recurring symptoms that are significant to the recognition of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
headache, dizziness and nausea. These 'flu like' symptoms are often mistaken for a real case of the flu and can result in delayed or misdiagnosed treatment.
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Phone: (520) 889-1177, (800) 639-7139
By CO Guardian LLC.
