Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

        Carbon Monoxide is an invisible threat to humans. CO is a toxic gas produced by burning a fossil fuel in car engines, fireplaces, stoves and furnaces, without burning the carbon completely out of it. Once in the air, it will remain for about two months. Carbon Monoxide or “CO” is odorless, colorless, tasteless and most importantly poisonous gas for the human body to breathe in. It can be in outdoor or indoor air. Breathing too much CO can cause Carbon Monoxide poisoning; resulting in flu like symptoms like dizziness, weakness, fatigue, vomiting, headache, and passing out. If exposed to too much carbon monoxide, you could die.

         To avoid CO exposure, each homeowner should have a carbon monoxide detector in wall unit form installed somewhere that they can hear it if it were to sound while they are sleeping.

http://www.lowes.com/projects/images/how-tos/Hardware/install-a-carbon-monoxide-and-smoke-detector-inline-where.jpg

The most convenient place for a wall unit to be placed is outside the bedroom door. Each time a new appliance is purchased for your home, you should check for a seal from a national gas-testing agency that guarantees safety from emissions. All appliances that are inside your home should be service checked annually by a technician.  Take precautions like never burning charcoal inside, refraining from using portable gas stoves and back up generators indoors.

         To prevent CO poisoning, the Center for Disease Control  (CDC) engages in CO research activities related to prevention and human behavior regarding precautions involving CO. For example, they determine a recommended safe distance for portable generators to be placed in yards.

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They also try to influence the public’s attitudes and behavior to be safer and take more precautions to ensure safety and minimal exposure.

         Studies through the CDC found that 15%-49% of CO poisoned people have long-term health problems. In Ohio, there were 76 deaths since 1999. North Carolina and Pennsylvania had 83 and 82 deaths, respectively.

Sources: 

http://ephtracking.cdc.gov/showIndicatorPages.action?selectedContentAreaAbbreviation=CO&selectedIndicatorId=39&selectedMeasureId=

http://www.cdc.gov/co/studies.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/co/default.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm