"Carbon Monoxide"

 

Carbon monoxide can be present in your home at any time during the year; however, a larger number of incidents involving carbon monoxide exposure occur during the heating season. With this in mind, the Marquette City Fire Department would like to offer some information about carbon monoxide, its possible sources, signs and symptoms, and what to do if you suspect that you have a carbon monoxide problem.

Carbon monoxide (or CO) is an odorless, tasteless, colorless toxic gas. The red blood cells in your body are "attracted" to CO 200 times more than oxygen. Carbon Monoxide accumulates in your blood stream and displaces oxygen. Even a small concentration of only 10% CO in your blood can cause minor health problems and low levels of carbon monoxide over a long period of time can be just as dangerous as a high level for a short period of time.

The toxicity of carbon monoxide is based on CO levels as well as exposure time. Not all people react the same to CO. If there is more than one person in the house, each one may have different symptoms. Depending on the amount of CO and length of time exposed, a victim will show one or more of the following signs:

  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • General Weakness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Loss of Muscle Control
  • Tightness in Chest
  • Convulsions
  • Redness of the Skin
  • Stinging or Burning Eyes
  • Sleepiness
  • Fluttering of the Heart
  • Confusion or Disorientation
  • Cherry Red Color of the Lips
  • Ringing or Roaring in the Ears

Carbon monoxide can be found any place where combustible gases are burned. Included are areas containing items such as home furnaces, hot water heaters, fireplaces and a wide variety of gasoline or propane powered devices like automobiles, motor homes, forklifts, golf carts (non-electric), lawn mowers, buses, boats, etc.

Gas appliances that are properly installed and adjusted are safe, reliable equipment. Of the 5000 U.S. deaths attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning each year, only 50 are caused by gas appliances. However, properly installed gas appliances also need adequate ventilating devices. These devices can be existing chimneys, vent pipes, or a dedicated exhaust system. (For more information on chimneys and proper ventilation see our web site page on wood stoves.)

The federal law for allowable exposure within an eight hour period for CO is 35 parts per million. Carbon monoxide detectors alarm at low enough levels of CO that are usually of a non-emergent nature, but do require immediate action to be taken.


If your carbon monoxide detector goes off:

·         Call 911 to initiate emergency response

·         Turn your thermostat to the lowest position

·         Turn off all non-vented appliances including your range

·         Turn the water heater (if gas) to the lowest vacation position

·         Vent the building by opening doors and windows


Emergency personnel respond to "false alarms" quite frequently concerning CO detectors. If your detector alarm sounds, don't hesitate to call 911. (The Marquette City Fire Department responds to all Carbon Monoxide calls within the Marquette City limits.) The following chart shows concentration limits and exposure times and symptoms:

 

CONCENTRATION OF CO IN AIR

INHALATION TIME AND SYMPTOMS

 

35 PPM            OSHA'S (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) time-weighted average limit for continuous exposure in any 8-hour period

200 PPM           OSHA'S Short Term Exposure Limits (15 minutes). Slight headache, tiredness, dizziness, nausea after 2-3 hours.

400 PPM           Frontal headaches within 1-2 hours, life threatening after 3 hours.

800 PPM           Dizziness, nausea, and convulsions within 45 minutes. Unconscious within 2 hours. Death within 2-3 hours.

1,600 PPM        Headache, dizziness and nausea with 20 minutes. Death within one hour.

3,200 PPM        Headache, dizziness, and nausea within 5-10 minutes. Death within 30 minutes.

6,400 PPM        Headache, dizziness and nausea within 1-2 minutes. Death within 10-15 minutes.

12,800 PPM      Death within 1-3 minutes.

If you have any questions concerning Carbon Monoxide and ways to make your home safer, please feel free to contact the Marquette City Fire Department at 228-0410.