Health Effects of Carbon Monoxide

Abstract

Carbon dioxide is a tasteless, odorless, colorless, and non-irritating gas produced by incomplete combustion of organic materials. It is present wherever combustion occurs. The major outdoor sources are vehicles (automobiles, light duty truck, heavy trucks, and buses). It also is emitted from power plants and industrial sources. CO also is an indoor pollutant that can reach toxic levels when indoor combustion sources are used without adequate ventilation. The rule is: Never use any indoor combustion source indoors without a vent. This applies to wood stoves and fireplaces (always make certain the fire in completely out before closing the draft to a fireplace). It also applies to kerosene and propane space heaters and even charcoal fueled burners such as a hibachi. During the holiday season of 1998, a family was found dead in their home due t o CO poisoning from use of an unvented hibachi used for warmth. Another source of CO poisoning is in vehicles without proper ventilation or with malfunctioning mufflers. Every year there are reports of accidental deaths from children and adults who are poisoned from staying in a vehicle with the engine running and improper ventilation. The Morbidity/Mortality Weekly report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 11,547 unintentional CO deaths in the US from 1979-1988 (MMWR, 1996). Of these 57% were caused by motor-vehicle exhaust; 83% of these deaths occurred in stationary vehicles. Deaths can occur in a vehicle in a garage even if the windows are open. CO is the leading cause of poisoning in the US. CO in the home can reach toxic levels from the use of defective or improperly installed appliances, from poor ventilation due to blocked chimneys or vents, and from idling vehicles in attached garages.