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The Effects of Exposure to Home Heating Gas

Natural gas and propane, the gases most commonly used for home heating, are both nontoxic to humans when inhaled in small amounts. However, these gases contain methane, and incomplete combustion of this compound, resulting from a leak or inadequate venting of a home heating system, can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, ultimately resulting in in illness or death. There is also some evidence that the byproducts of home heating gas combustion can irritate the respiratory system.

  1. Asphyxia

    • The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that for rapidly developing, high-level carbon monoxide exposures resulting from severe home heating gas leaks, victims can quickly become mentally confused, lose muscle control and lose consciousness without having first experienced any milder symptoms. According to the National Institutes of Health, these severe carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms occur when the level of carbon monoxide in the air is so high that it dramatically reduces the amount of oxygen available for breathing, leading to asphyxia, or suffocation.

    Chronic Health Problems

    • Chronic, low-level exposure to carbon monoxide resulting from home heating gas leaks or problems in home heating system venting can cause persistent flulike symptoms, chronic fatigue or generalized depression, according to the Chimney Safety Institute of America. Low-level carbon monoxide exposure initially manifests in symptoms such as headache, nausea, dizziness and fatigue. Long-term exposure to low-levels of carbon monoxide produced by home heating gas can lead to chronic health problems as well as permanent organ or brain damage.

    Respiratory Illness

    • Although the U.S. National Library of Medicine states that using propane and natural gas for home heating is not harmful to health when these gases are combusted safely, some reports claim that home heating gas can contaminate the air of a residential space even when safety precautions are taken. In a 2002 article published in the magazine, "Alive," author and manager of the Natural Gas Health Information Coalition, David Wimberly, claims that there is significant evidence that the impurities and contaminants contained in natural gas (such as rayon and benzene) and the products of natural gas combustion (including nitrogen dioxide, fine particulates, volatile organic compounds and other chemicals), can lead to respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, in individuals exposed to gas-powered home heating systems and appliances. Due to the potential respiratory health risk resulting from exposure to combusted home heating gas, Wimberly advocates using all-electric heating systems and appliances.

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