The Effects of Carbon Monoxide Pollution

Carbon monoxide is a gas that is odorless, colorless and extremely toxic. Symptoms of exposure to low levels of carbon monoxide are mild and include dizziness, headaches, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. People with heart disease may experience chest pain. These symptoms are commonly mistaken for the flu, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Exposure to moderate concentrations of carbon monoxide can result in symptoms like impaired vision, angina and decreased brain function. Exposure to high concentrations of carbon monoxide often results in death.

Warning

• Carbon monoxide can kill you before you know it's in your home because it is impossible to see or smell the fumes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Acute exposure to high concentrations of carbon monoxide results in the development of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood which inhibits oxygen intake. This occurs when carbon monoxide enters the lungs and binds chemically to hemoglobin. Carbon monoxide is picked up by red blood cells faster than oxygen, which makes it impossible for oxygen to attach to red blood cells when carbon monoxide is present. Hemoglobin is a protein carried by red blood cells that's normally responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. Hemoglobin cannot bind to oxygen when carbon monoxide is present. As a result, oxygen delivery to the heart, brain and other tissues in the body is drastically reduced.

Sources

• One common cause of carbon monoxide poisoning in homes is people leaving their cars idling in their garage, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. You should never let your car idle in your garage even if your garage door is open because fumes can accumulate extremely rapidly. Some families also make the mistake of using a gas oven to heat their homes, which can also lead to indoor carbon monoxide accumulation. Other sources of carbon monoxide pollution include charcoal grills, gas dryers, wood stoves, gas water heaters and fuel-fired furnaces.

Prevention

• One way to protect your family from carbon monoxide pollution is by installing a carbon monoxide detector in your home. You should purchase one carbon monoxide detector for each floor of your home, according to The Consumer Product Safety Commission. Having a carbon monoxide detector is important because without one carbon monoxide is impossible to detect.

Statistics

• More than 400 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning each year in the United States, according to the CDC. In addition, more than 20,000 people visit emergency rooms throughout the country each year and 4,000 people are hospitalized.