Carbon Monoxide – The Silent

Killer
 Carbon Monoxide
• Carbon monoxide - a colorless,
odorless, tasteless gas - is one of the
most common industrial hazards
 Carbon Monoxide
• Today, Carbon Monoxide (CO) is the
most commonly encountered and
pervasive poison in our environment. It
is responsible for more deaths than any
other single poison, and for enormous
suffering and morbidity in those who
survive.
 Carbon Monoxide
• Tens of thousands of people seek
medical attention or lose several days
of normal activity

• More than 500 people die through

unintentional exposure
 Carbon Monoxide
• It has been known for many years that
CO poisoning can produce lasting
health harm, mainly through its
destructive effects on the central
nervous system.
– Some studies found that 25-40% of people
died during acute exposure, while 15-40%
of the survivors suffered immediate or
delayed neuropsychological deficit.
 Carbon Monoxide
• Formula = CO
– Although each molecule of CO has one
carbon atom and one oxygen atom, it has
a shape similar to that of an oxygen
molecule (two atoms of oxygen), which is
important with regard to it's lethality.
 Carbon Monoxide
– This poisonous gas is produced by the
incomplete burning of any material
containing carbon, such as gasoline,
natural gas, oil, propane, coal or wood.
• Forges and blast furnaces all produce carbon
monoxide, but one of the most common
sources of exposure in the workplace is the
internal combustion engine.
 Carbon Monoxide
• What is CO's History?

– "Coal fumes lead to heavy head and death"

- First mention of the lethal effects of coal
fumes - Aristotle, Greece, 3rd century B.C.
 Carbon Monoxide
– First clinical description of coal gas
poisoning - Harmant, France, 1775

– CO identified as the toxic substance in coal

gas -- LeBlanc, France, 1842
 Carbon Monoxide
– Shown that CO produces hypoxia by
reversible combination with hemoglobin -
Claude Bernard, France, 1857

– First clinical use of Hyperbaric Oxygen

therapy in CO poisoning - Smith & Sharp,
1960
 Carbon Monoxide
– International tennis star Vitas Gerulaitus
loses life in CO accident involving a pool
heater, September, 1994

– Use as euthanasia agent by suicide

advocate, Jack Kevorkian, M.D. - 1990s
 Carbon Monoxide
• CO is produced when:
– carbonaceous materials are burned with
insufficient oxygen. Its lethal effects have
been known for centuries; in ancient
Rome, "coal gas" was used for executions
and suicides.
 Carbon Monoxide
• Man-made sources of CO include:
– Incomplete fuel combustion used in
transport (automobile exhaust)
– Smoking of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, etc.
– Defective heating (furnace, water heater)
systems
– Defective cooking appliances
– Industrial plant exhausts
– Burning of solid waste
 Carbon Monoxide
• The initial symptoms of CO are similar
to the flu (but without the fever). They
include:
– Dizziness
– Fatigue
– Headache
– Nausea
– Irregular breathing
 Carbon Monoxide
• This is particularly dangerous because
CO effects often are not recognized.
CO is odorless and some of the
symptoms of CO poisoning are similar
to the flu or other common illnesses.
 Carbon Monoxide
• Since Carbon Monoxide has such an
affinity to red blood cells, it binds to
them, leaving little or no room for
oxygen.
 Carbon Monoxide
• How can production of dangerous levels
of CO be prevented?
 Carbon Monoxide
– Dangerous levels of CO can be prevented
by proper appliance maintenance,
installation and use:
 Carbon Monoxide
• Maintenance:
– A qualified service technician should check
your home's central and room heating
appliances (including water heaters and
gas dryers) annually. The technician
should look at the electrical and
mechanical components of appliances,
such as thermostat controls and automatic
safety devices.
 Carbon Monoxide
– Chimneys and flues should be checked for
blockages, corrosion, and loose
connections.
– Individual appliances should be serviced
regularly. Kerosene and gas space heaters
(vented and unvented) should be cleaned
and inspected to insure proper operation.
 Carbon Monoxide
• Installation:
– Proper installation is critical to the safe
operation of combustion appliances. All
new appliances have installation
instructions that should be followed exactly.
Local building codes should be followed as
well.
 Carbon Monoxide
– Vented appliances should be vented
properly, according to manufacturer's
instructions.
– Adequate combustion air should be
provided to assure complete combustion.
– All combustion appliances should be
installed by professionals.
 Carbon Monoxide
• Use:
– Follow manufacturer's directions for safe
operation.
– Make sure the room where an unvented
gas or kerosene space heater is used is
well ventilated;
 Carbon Monoxide
– Doors leading to another room should be
open to insure proper ventilation.

– Never use an unvented combustion heater

overnight or in a room where you are
sleeping.
 Carbon Monoxide
• Are there signs that might indicate
improper appliance operation?
– Yes, these are:
• Decreasing hot water supply
• Furnace unable to heat house or runs
constantly
• Sooting, especially on appliances
• Unfamiliar or burning odor
• Increased condensation inside windows
 Carbon Monoxide
• Are there visible signs that might
indicate a CO problem?
– Yes, these are:
• Improper connections on vents and chimneys
• Visible rust or stains on vents and chimneys
• An appliance that makes unusual sounds or
emits an unusual smell
 Carbon Monoxide
• An appliance that keeps shutting off. Many new
appliances have safety components attached
that prevent operation if an unsafe condition
exists. If an appliance stops operating, it may
be because a safety device is preventing a
dangerous condition.
– Therefore, don't try to operate an appliance that
keeps shutting off; call a service person instead.
 Carbon Monoxide
• Are there other ways to prevent CO
poisoning?
– Yes, these are:
• Never use a range or oven to heat the living
areas of the home
• Never use a charcoal grill or hibachi in the
home
• Never keep a car running in an attached
garage
 Carbon Monoxide
• CO can be detected with CO detectors
that meet the requirements of the
Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
– Since the toxic effect of CO is dependent
upon both CO concentration and length of
exposure, long-term exposure to a low
concentration can produce effects similar
to short term exposure to a high
concentration.
 Carbon Monoxide
– Detectors that meet the UL standard
measure both high CO concentrations over
short periods of time and low CO
concentrations over long periods of time.
The effects of CO can be cumulative over
time.
• Detectors sound an alarm before the level of
CO in a person's blood would become crippling.