Region 1: EPA New England

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - What New Englanders Should Know

January 14, 2004 By Robert W. Varney	[ En Español ]
	Archive

With furnaces and wood stoves running full blast during the recent spate of frigid weather, New Englanders need to be aware of the enormous health threat posed by carbon monoxide poisoning. Just this week, three Connecticut family members died and three other relatives remain hospitalized after being poisoned by carbon monoxide from a clogged chimney at their home in East Lyme. And this was not an isolated incident. Every year, hundreds of people of all ages die from exposure to carbon monoxide. Fortunately, every family can take some simple steps to safeguard their health from this poisonous odorless gas and other combustion pollutants.

Related Information     CT Department of Public Health: Carbon Monoxide Alert

Carbon monoxide (chemically known as CO) is produced by burning any fuel. So any combustion appliance in your home, including a furnace, wood stove or gas range, is a potential source. When appliances are kept in good working condition, they produce very little carbon monoxide. Improperly operating appliances, however, can produce fatal carbon monoxide levels. Using charcoal indoors, venting gas dryers indoors or running a car in a garage can also cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

Exposure to carbon monoxide reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. Often a person or an entire family may not recognize that carbon monoxide is poisoning them. The chemical is odorless and some of the health effects are similar to those from common illnesses. This is particularly dangerous because carbon monoxide’s deadly effects can go unrecognized until it is too late to take action. Carbon monoxide exposures especially affect unborn babies, infants, and people with anemia or a history of heart disease. At very high levels, it may cause loss of consciousness and death.

The initial symptoms of carbon monoxide are similar to the flu, but without the fever. They include dizziness, fatigue, headaches, nausea and irregular breathing. If you have any of these symptoms and if you feel better when you go outside your home and the symptoms reappear once you are back inside, you may have carbon monoxide poisoning. If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, seek medical assistance right away.

Here are some steps you can take to protect your family from CO poisoning.

• Make sure appliances are installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions and local building codes. Most appliances should be installed by professionals.
• Have the heating system (including chimneys and vents) inspected and serviced annually by a professional.
• Follow manufacturer’s directions for safe operation.
• Examine vents and chimneys regularly for improper connections, visible rust or stains.
• Notice problems that could indicate an appliance is not being operated correctly, such as decreasing hot water supply, inability of a furnace to heat the house, soot on appliances, and unfamiliar or burning odors.
• In addition, homeowners and renters should consider installing a CO detector for added safety, but in no way does it substitute for any of the recommendations stated above. Be sure that the detector meets requirements of the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 2034 and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for proper placement of the detector in your home.

DO NOT;

• burn charcoal indoors
• service combustion appliances on your own
• use a gas range or oven for heating
• leave a car running in a garage, or
• operate unvented fuel-burning appliances in a closed room.

For more information on carbon monoxide and other indoor air quality pollutants found in your home, visit the agency’s web site at www.epa.gov/iaq or contact our National EPA Indoor Air Quality Clearinghouse at 800-438-4318.

Robert W. Varney is regional administrator of EPA’s New England Office.