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What is Carbon
Monoxide?
Carbon
monoxide is a toxic gas that can occur in homes and buildings where combustion
by-products are generated and allowed to disperse. It is colorless, odorless,
tasteless and it is an asphyxiant. As a poison, it is deadly at high
levels.
At low
concentrations, CO can go undetected and contribute to nagging illnesses.
It can compound pre-existing health problems and can be undetected in premature
deaths. Carbon monoxide is a result of unburned fuel.
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Sources of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning |
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Auto
exhaust is thought to be the number #1 cause of accidental CO poisoning in North
America and has been reported to be the cause of around 60% of carbon monoxide
alarm responses.
Just notice how many people let their automobiles warm up inside garages with
the door open and for how long before they back out and close the door with
their automatic door control. Typically, any gasoline engine produces the
highest CO levels during a cold start.
CO gets trapped inside the garage and can easily disperse into the rest of the
building through unseen but loose fitting construction connections (like wiring
penetrations, framing joints, ductwork seams, door jambs and other areas).
Building pressure and temperature variations work as siphon points and air
exchange locations. |
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Recent,
more thorough testing for CO suggests that unvented, poorly installed,
unmaintained and misused gas and oil appliances are the 2nd leading cause of CO
alarm response, and may constitute as much as 20% of CO alarm call sources.
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The 3rd leading cause of CO
exposure appears to be due to vented atmospheric, natural drafting appliances
which back draft into the structure and may account for 19% of the CO alarms
going off. |
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Currently Accepted Medical Symptoms
of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning |
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Slight headaches, tiredness, dizziness, and nausea
after 2-3 hours - 200 PPM.
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Frontal headaches within 1-2 hours. Life threatening after 3 hours - 400 PPM.
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Dizziness, nausea and convulsions within 45 minutes. Unconsciousness within 2
hours.
Death within 2-3 hours - 800 PPM.
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Headache, dizziness and nausea within 20 minutes. Death within 1 hour - 1,600 PPM.
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Headache, dizziness and nausea within 5-10 minutes. Death within 30 minutes
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3,200 PPM.
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Headache, dizziness and nausea within 1-2 minutes. Death within 10-15 minutes
- 6,400 PPM.
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