Carbon Monoxide 3/25/2024

 

Carbon Monoxide


According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 100,000 individuals in the United States visit emergency rooms due to accidental carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning every year, with over 14,000 of them requiring hospitalization. Unfortunately, at least 420 people lose their lives due to accidental CO poisoning annually.


Joseph Priestley (1733-1804) is credited with discovering carbon monoxide. He discovered that this compound is different from carbon dioxide between 1772 and 1799. We measure the concentration of this gas in Parts Per Million (PPM) to determine safe and non-safe levels.


Carbon monoxide is lethal because it interferes with the body's ability to transport oxygen. When you breathe in air, oxygen molecules attach to hemoglobin in your red blood cells, allowing them to be transported to cells and tissues throughout your body. However, carbon monoxide has a higher affinity for hemoglobin than oxygen, which means that it will bind to hemoglobin preferentially when both gases are present in the air.


Carbon monoxide forms carboxyhemoglobin when it binds to hemoglobin, which is a compound that cannot carry oxygen efficiently. This causes the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood to decrease, leading to hypoxia (insufficient oxygen supply to tissues and organs). This lack of oxygen can be particularly damaging to vital organs like the brain and heart.


Carbon monoxide is both colorless and odorless, making it difficult to detect without special equipment. Therefore, people may be exposed to high levels of CO without realizing it, especially in enclosed spaces where combustion (such as from a malfunctioning heating system, car exhaust, or other sources) is taking place.


Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and, in severe cases, unconsciousness and death. It is essential to have proper ventilation and carbon monoxide detectors in areas where combustion occurs to prevent and detect potential exposure. If carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, immediate medical attention is necessary, and affected individuals should be moved to fresh air.


The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) at 50 ppm (averaged over an 8-hour workday), while the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has established the Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) at 35 ppm (averaged over an 8-hour workday). CO levels of 0-9 PPM pose no risk to health and are considered normal. Levels of 10-29 PPM indicate long-term exposure and may cause headaches and nausea. Levels below 50 PPM are considered low, while levels between 51-100 PPM are considered mid-level. Levels greater than 101 PPM are dangerous if someone is experiencing symptoms and high if nobody is experiencing symptoms.


It is highly recommended to have a carbon monoxide detector within 10 feet of a bedroom "Not a bad idea to have one in a garage either" even if you don't have a fireplace or gas appliances. Carbon monoxide is as light as air and can fill a room quickly when least expected.

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