Carbon Monoxide- A Real Present Danger

Carbon Monoxide

A real and present danger. As the last vestiges of fall blow away and the first snowflakes of winter settle onto the once vibrant lawns and gardens, thoughts of living in a place where cold weather is just a rumor fight to create space in that limited area know as my mind. Whether you enjoy winter or not, the reality is that all of us must live in a heated house to have some degree
of comfort. Most heating appliances require the burning of wood or gas to generate heat. This creates opportunities for carbon monoxide, which is a byproduct
of incomplete combustion. Poisoning from carbon monoxideeven
at low levels can create serious
health problems. The next few months I will be detailing the causes, effects, warning signs, and solutions for this all too common hazard.
There is no “safe” level of carbon monoxide. It is measured in PPM (parts per million).It has been suggested by various organizations that “normal” levels are below 50 ppm.Other reports consider levels from 935ppm
to be OK. According to Carbon Monoxide
expert Bob Dwyer, CO levels inside a home should be no higher than levels outside thehome. “Spikes” in the levels should be anticipated from cigarette smoke, candles, woodburning fireplaces, etc. Long term exposure to relatively low levels of CO can lead tochronic fatigue syndrome, heart disease, and many other problems that are usuallymisdiagnosed. For a sampling of levels of high exposure and what you may experience,refer to the following chart:Symptom CO ppm Slight headaches, dizziness after 23 hours 200 Frontal headaches after 12
hours; life threatening in 3 hours 400 Dizziness, nausea and convulsions within 45 minutes 800 Unconscious within 2 hours; death with 23 hours
Headaches, dizziness, and nausea within 20 min; death in 1 hour 1600
Headaches, dizziness, and nausea within 510
min; death in 30 min. 3200
Headaches, dizziness, and nausea within 12
min; death 1015
min 6400
If you experience any of the symptoms in the above chart, you should start by leaving the room or area and have it tested for CO. If any CO is recorded, you should then determine the cause and have it rectified.
Automobile exhaust is the number one cause of high levels of CO. Warming up your car in the garage is never a good ideaeven
for a couple of minutes. This is true even if the
garage door is open. CO seeps into the living spaces and create short and long term
problems. The driver may experience headaches from this overexposure and attribute it to something else. Tune in next month for how to ensure that your house is not trying to kill you! (With CO
emissions.)