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Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous, colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that can kill you. It does this by displacing oxygen in the blood and depriving the heart, brain, and other vital organs of oxygen.
Breathing in carbon monoxide can make you unwell, and it can be deadly if you're exposed to high levels of the gas.
The longer CO gas is breathed in and the higher its concentration, the worse the symptoms become. These include loss of balance, diminished vision, and loss of memory.
Other common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and disorientation.
After CO is breathed in, it enters the bloodstream and mixes with haemoglobin (the part of red blood cells that carry oxygen around the body) to form carboxyhaemoglobin.
When this occurs, the blood is no longer capable of carrying oxygen. This lack of oxygen causes the body's cells and tissue to fail and die.
Subsequently, the body is no longer able to sustain any function. At this stage you pass out. Without quick intervention, death is inevitable.
Mild CO symptoms are often described as "flu-like." In fact, the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are not always obvious, particularly during low-level exposure. One thing to note, however, is that CO poisoning does not cause a high temperature.
People who are sleeping or drunk can succumb to CO poisoning before they have symptoms.
Inhalation of CO can also induce classic food-poisoning symptoms.
Everyone is at risk for CO poisoning, and symptoms can vary widely from person to person. CO poisoning may occur sooner in those most susceptible: young children, the elderly, and those with underlying lung or heart disease.
Symptoms can gradually get worse with prolonged exposure to CO. This can lead to a delay in diagnosis.
If you're pregnant, beware! CO poisoning poses a particular risk to fetuses. Significant reproductive risk is also linked to prolonged exposure to CO.
The most severe symptoms of CO poisoning tend to manifest within two hours if there's a lot of carbon monoxide in the air. However, in cases where there are very high levels of carbon monoxide, death may occur within minutes.
CO poisoning can be reversed if caught in time. But even if you recover, acute poisoning may result in permanent damage to the parts of your body that require a lot of oxygen, such as the heart and brain.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unintentional CO poisoning in the United States not linked to fires is responsible for more than 50,000 emergency department visits, resulting in more than 400 deaths. And the risks for CO poisoning increase in winter.
But carbon monoxide is a potential all-season killer. So, what causes CO gas to form, and how does it leak? Carbon monoxide is produced by the incomplete burning of fuels such as wood, charcoal, coal, heating oil, paraffin, petrol, natural gas, propane, butane, etc.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the normal by-product of combustion, but if there is not enough oxygen present carbon monoxide is formed instead of CO2.
Gas, oil, coal, and wood are sources of fuel used in many household appliances. These include boilers, cookers, central heating systems, and water heaters (pictured).
A dangerous level of CO can accumulate if an appliance is faulty or badly maintained, if a flue is blocked, or if a room is inadequately ventilated.
In fact, incorrectly installed, poorly maintained, or poorly ventilated household appliances are the most common causes of accidental exposure to carbon monoxide.
Other dangers associated with CO poisoning include running a car engine inside a garage, faulty or blocked exhausts (a common problem in winter), and blocked flues and chimneys.
Industrial environments are hazardous at the best of times. You may be exposed to harmful levels of CO in boiler rooms, warehouses, petroleum refineries, pulp and paper production, and steel production facilities, for example. Those at particular risk include welders, diesel engine operators, and marine terminal workers. Strict health and safety regulations should always be in place to minimize the risk of CO poisoning in the workplace. But what can you do to protect yourself in a domestic environment?
Once you've installed a CO detector, check and regularly replace the battery so the unit is always functioning at its optimum level. Replace your CO detector every five years.
Choose a detector with a digital readout. This type of unit can tell you the highest level of CO concentration in your home in addition to alarming. And always place a unit where it will wake you up if it alarms, such as outside your bedroom.
Ensure each fossil fuel burning appliance is serviced regularly. Ideally, a CO detector should be installed in every room featuring a solid fuel burning appliance, and where occupants spend most of their time.
When you suspect CO poisoning, taking prompt action can save lives. Move the victim immediately to fresh air in an open area. Alternatively, ventilate an enclosed space by opening all windows.
Seek medical advice from your physician if you think you have been exposed to low levels of CO.
If you believe you've been exposed to high levels of CO, don't waste time. Go immediately to the nearest hospital's emergency room. You may require oxygen therapy where you'll be given 100% oxygen through a tight-fitting mask (normal air contains around 21% oxygen).
Sources: (OSHA) (CDC) (NHS) (University of Utah Health) (Honeywell)
Those who already have elevated CO blood levels, such as smokers, are also more susceptible to CO poisoning.
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that can kill you. And it can do so in a matter of minutes. But what exactly is this silent killer, and how can you protect yourself from its potentially deadly effects?
Click through and find out the hidden dangers of carbon monoxide.
Silent killer: The hidden dangers of carbon monoxide
And how you can protect yourself
LIFESTYLE Poison
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that can kill you. And it can do so in a matter of minutes. But what exactly is this silent killer, and how can you protect yourself from its potentially deadly effects?
Click through and find out the hidden dangers of carbon monoxide.