According to the Environmental Protection Agency, carbon monoxide (CO) is a dangerous source of indoor air pollution. CO is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you before you are aware it is in your home.
No standards for CO have been agreed upon for Indoor Air. The U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Outdoor Air are: 9 ppm (40,000 micrograms per meter cubed) for 8 hours and 35 ppm for 1 hour.
At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. The effects of CO exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure.
Sources of Carbon Monoxide
- tobacco smoke
- gas stoves (incomplete oxidation during combustion)
- gas water heaters
- wood stoves and fireplaces
- auto, truck, or bus exhaust from attached garages, nearby roads, or parking areas
- unvented kerosene and gas space heaters (incomplete oxidation during combustion)
- generators and other gasoline powered equipment
- leaking chimneys and furnaces and back-drafting from furnaces
- Worn or poorly adjusted and maintained combustion devices (e.g., boilers, furnaces) can be significant sources, or if the flue is improperly sized, blocked, disconnected, or is leaking.
- Average levels in homes without gas stoves vary from 0.5 to 5 parts per million (ppm), while levels near properly adjusted gas stoves are often 5 to 15 ppm. Levels near poorly adjusted stoves may be 30 ppm or higher.
Health Effects Associated with Carbon Monoxide
- AT LOW CONCENTRATIONS:
fatigue in healthy people
chest pain in people with heart disease
- AT MODERATE CONCENTRATIONS:
angina
impaired vision
reduced brain function
- AT HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS:
impaired vision
impaired coordination
headaches
dizziness
confusion
nausea.
CO exposure can be fatal at very high concentrations
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