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REPORT ON CARBON MONOXIDE “The Silent Killer” What is carbon monoxide? Carbon Monoxide, (CO chemical compound name) is a colourless, odourless and tasteless but poisonous gas produced primarily by incomplete burning of fossil fuels. Technically it is a product of incomplete combustion of hydrocarbon-based fuels What are the sources of Carbon Monoxide? The Government of Canada reports that the transportation sector accounts for 65 per cent of all carbon monoxide emissions from human activity in Canada. A large part of the remainder comes from primary metal producers (24 per cent) and from fuel combustion in space heating and industrial processes (6 per cent). In your home, leaks can include gas which can come from several sources: gas-fired appliances, charcoal grills, wood-burning furnaces or fireplaces. Other sources include: malfunctioning cooking appliance tobacco smoke clogged chimney auto exhaust malfunctioning water heater malfunctioning oil, wood, gas or coal furnaces malfunctioning gas clothes dryer wood burning fireplace, decorative fireplace, gas log burner, or any un-vented space heater other possible sources: appliances in cabins or campers, barbecue grills, lack of adequate ventilation, pool/spa heaters, ceiling-mounted heating unit. What are the effects of Carbon Monoxide? Carbon monoxide enters your blood stream and reduces oxygen delivery to your organs and tissues. People with heart disease are particularly at risk. At lower levels of exposure, carbon monoxide causes mild effects that are often mistaken for flu symptoms, including headaches, nausea, fatique, dizziness, and extreme disorientation. Effects of carbon monoxide exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure to the gas. Carbon monoxide is poisonous and it doesn’t kill you - can seriously harm your central nervous system. Who is at risk? people with cardiovascular disease; people with anemia, asthma and emphysema; people engaging in strenuous physical activity; and our elderly, children and unborn fetuses. Remember, anyone can become sick and die from carbon monoxide poisoning when very high level exposures occur. Why should I be concerned? Carbon Monoxide Kills! Many Canadians die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning in their own homes, most people while they are sleeping. How do I protect myself and my family? There are Carbon Monoxide alarms out there, much like your fire alarms. A listed carbon monoxide alarm with an audible warning signal placed near the sleeping areas and outside individual bedrooms can alert you and your family to any leaks. Carbon monoxide alarms measure levels of carbon monoxide over time and are designed to sound an alarm before an average, healthy adult would experience symptoms. Carbon monoxide displaces the oxygen in the blood and can quietly poison you and your family. What should I do in case of emergency? If carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected: Evacuate the area immediately. Get everyone into the fresh air. Call 9-1-1 from another location. Report it to the fire department, even if everyone is feeling better. What are some signs of Carbon Monoxide infiltration? A yellow, large and unsteady burner flame; An unusual pungent odour when any appliance is operating. What other ways can I protect myself and my family? Have a qualified professional check all of your fuel burning appliances, furnaces, venting and chimney systems at least once a year. Never use your stove or oven to help heat your home or apartment and never use a charcoal grill or hibachi inside your home or garage. Using a grill indoors will cause a build up of carbon monoxide inside your home, apartment, cabin, and even camper unless you use it inside a vented fireplace. Also be aware of burning charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal — red, gray, black, or white — gives off carbon monoxide! Never keep your car running in the garage. Even if the garage doors are open, normal circulation will not provide enough fresh air to reliably prevent a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide. Never run your car or truck inside a garage that is attached to a house and always open the door to any garage to let in fresh air when running a car or truck inside the garage. When buying your new home, have a qualified technician evaluate the integrity of the heating and cooking systems, as well as the sealed spaces between the garage and the house. Remember, one of the best preventions is the presence of a carbon monoxide alarm in your home can save your life in the event of carbon monoxide buildup. How safe is my Vehicle? Have your mechanic check your exhaust system of your car at least once a year. A small leak in your car's exhaust system can lead to a build up of carbon monoxide inside your car. If you drive a vehicle with a tailgate, when you open the tailgate, you also need to open your vents or windows to make sure that fresh air is moving throughout your car or truck. If only the tailgate is open carbon monoxide from your exhaust will be pulled into your vehicle. How safe is my workplace? The burning of fuel produces carbon monoxide. The fuel is often gasoline, diesel, or propane which used in engines. Poorly maintained engines can be less efficient and produce more carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is also produced when other materials such as wood or coal are burned. Some work processes, for instance, like welding, produce carbon monoxide. When carbon monoxide is produced in an enclosed space or where there is poor to no ventilation, it will build up to highly dangerous levels. This problem can be twice as bad in the winter months when shop doors and windows are closed. Fire fighters, foundry workers, and motor vehicle examiners, are amongst the top workers who typically have long term exposures to carbon monoxide. Studies have showed that there is an increase in cardiovascular (heart and blood system) problems among these types of workers. Ensure to ask your Workplace Health and Safety Representative to alleviate your concerns about carbon monoxide exposure. Ask about: which workplace processes or equipment can give off carbon monoxide if coworkers have early carbon monoxide poisoning signs the level of carbon monoxide in the air the best way to prevent overexposure to carbon monoxide Training is needed for all workers on the causes carbon monoxide poisoning, safe work practices, and what to do if someone gets sick or if there is an emergency. What other work places can be affected by Carbon Monoxide? Workers who can also be exposed to carbon monoxide are in warehouses and fruit packing facilities where propane-powered forklifts are operated. Carbon Monoxide exposure will also occur when operating equipment with small gasoline engines such as pressure washers, concrete cutters, water pumps, air compressors and generators at construction sites. Carbon monoxide is also produced by kerosene space heaters, from natural gas cooking units to propane-powered floor polishers. Outdoor use of this equipment is not normally hazardous, however, in buildings or enclosed spaces, carbon monoxide can quickly build up to dangerous and even deadly amounts. How safe is my Boat? It is very important that all boaters are made aware of the possible deadly circumstances surrounding carbon monoxide poisoning. Important attention should be paid to this issue when there are “after market” changes made to your vessel (for instance, cabin extensions, canvas tops fitted, etc.) All boaters should use fuel-burning appliances only under well-ventilated conditions. It is also important that you are aware of exhaust gases and likely places that they may billow up and drift into an enclosed or partially enclosed space on your boat. Marine grade carbon monoxide detectors should be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. These detectors should be mounted inside near any sleeping or cooking areas on your boat. Carbon Monoxide You can’t smell it. You can’t taste it. You can’t see it. But you can do something about it! What are Carbon Monoxide Detectors? Household approved carbon monoxide detectors measure how much carbon monoxide has accumulated in your home. Carbon monoxide detectors will sound an alarm when the concentration of CO in the air corresponds to 10% carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level in the blood. Since 10% COHb is at the very low end of carbon monoxide poisoning, the alarm may sound before you feel particularly sick. This will give you time to get out of the home with your family and call help to determine the levels in your home. How do I select a good Carbon Monoxide Detector? Select carbon monoxide detector(s) listed by a qualified, independent testing laboratories in your area. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for various placement areas in your home. Call your local fire department non-emergency telephone number. Tell the operator that you have just purchased a carbon monoxide detector and ask what number to call if the detector activates. Make sure everyone in your home knows the difference between the fire emergency and carbon monoxide emergency numbers (if there is a difference). Test your carbon monoxide detectors at least once a month. Replace your carbon monoxide detectors according to the manufacturer's instructions, which is usually about every two years. Battery powered carbon monoxide detectors could have unique battery packs designed to last approximately two years, unlike the batteries used in smoke detectors, which require yearly replacement. I’ve got Gas Appliances, how do I ventilate those? ü All of your gas appliances should be vented so that carbon monoxide will not build up in your home.ü Never burn anything in a stove or fireplace that isn’t properly vented.ü Ensure your chimney is checked and/or cleaned every year. Chimneys can easily be blocked by debris, leaves, dead birds, etc. These blockages can cause carbon monoxide to build up inside your home.ü Never patch a vent pipe with tape, gum, or something else. This sort of patch can make carbon monoxide build up to dangerous levels in your home.ü Horizontal vent pipes used to fuel appliances should not be perfectly level. Indoor vent pipes should arc up slightly as they are directed towards the outdoors. This helps prevent carbon monoxide or other gases from leaking if the joints or pipes aren't fitted tightly.How does Carbon Monoxide poisoning work? Were you aware that your red blood cells pick up carbon monoxide quicker than they pick up oxygen! If there is a lot of carbon monoxide in the air, the body may replace oxygen in blood with carbon monoxide. This blocks oxygen from getting into the body, which can damage tissues and result in death. How safe is my Furnace? A clean and well-maintained furnace is a safe furnace that will save you money on your monthly gas bill. Below are some ideas to help ensure the safe and efficient operation of your natural gas furnace: Have your gas furnace checked at least once a year by a licensed heating contractor. Many gas furnaces use air from certain rooms to operate. Debris such as lint and dust which are carried by the air, or items stored in or around the furnace can obstruct the furnace’s airflow. In order to operate safely and efficiently, your gas furnace must be kept free of dust and lint build-up or other obstructions stored near the furnace such as newspapers or cleaning equipment. Most of today’s new furnaces have forced-air filter that cleans the air before heating and circulating it throughout your home. Check your filter monthly for lint build-up especially during periods of furnace use; clean or replace when necessary. When installing a new filter, be sure to re-install the front panel/door of the furnace properly so it fits tight. Never operate the furnace without the front panel/door properly in place - doing so will create the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. The good news is that many newer forced-air furnaces have safety switches that prevents furnace operation when the filter compartment door/panel is not tightly in place. So how safe are my Gas Logs? Today’s gas log flames are designed to be more natural looking so they are more yellow than the flames in your appliances. However, a soft, yellow flame from your gas log could mean your gas logs are producing carbon monoxide. Ensure your chimney is clean and drafting properly, and the chimney damper is completely open, the carbon monoxide should be drawn up through the chimney, and safely out of your home. It’s very important to always keep your chimney damper open when you are using a gas log and ensure your chimney is drafting properly.
What about Second-Hand Cigarette Hand Smoke? Second-hand cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide in addition to many other hazardous chemicals and particles. Concentrations of carbon monoxide in second hand smoke are too low to cause immediate poisoning, but breathing the carbon monoxide from second-hand cigarettes for a long period of time can affect the health of those exposed to it (ie: bar staff; restaurant staff). You’ve all smelt that offensive cigar smoke. It has been proven that in fact, it is possible for cigar smokers to raise indoor carbon monoxide concentrations to more than 9 ppm above ambient concentrations measured outside. The concentration of carbon monoxide will vary with the type of building parameters including ventilation. Carbon Monoxide – Good for Pregnant Women? You’ve all read the stories above about the negative affects of the poisonous gas carbon monoxide, how could it possibly be good for pregnant women? Recently in New York, scientists have determined that this potentially poisonous gas can prevent the death of placental cells and might become a treatment for “pre-eclampsia” which is a pregnancy condition which involves high blood pressure. According to the report in The American Journal of Pathology, the researchers exposed human placental tissue from full-term pregnancies to the gas to assess the effects of carbon monoxide on placental cells. They then compared the effects with a sample of unexposed tissue. The cells in placental tissue exposed to carbon monoxide had a 60-percent lower death rate than cells in unexposed tissue. They have advised that this Treatment is still a few years away, until they can do some animal-testing. Dr. Smith, head of the project says “I suspect we’re three or four years away from pregnant animal studies, to get an idea of 'safe' carbon monoxide levels from the fetal point of view,” Smith commented. “That would mean a year or two after that before we’d be looking at human studies. We would have to develop some sort of delivery system. The ideal would likely be to maintain carbon monoxide levels comparable to a moderate (say one pack per day) smoker without all the bad stuff in cigarette smoke.” |
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