Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
By: Olivia Agan
Definition
Carbon monoxide is a gas that can not be seen or smelled and can kill in an instant.
Prevention Tips
- Get heating system, water heater, or anything else that uses gas, oil, or coal burning appliances checked by a professional
- In your house, make sure you have a CO detector and make sure you check and replace batteries. If the CO detector turns on the alarm, call 911 immediately
- If you think you have CO poisoning and are feeling sick, seek medical attention immediately
- Never use appliances that runs on gas or charcoal in the house
- Never start a car inside a garage
- Never burn materials in a stove or fireplaces that doesn't have a vent
Carbon Monoxide Detector
Carbon Monoxide Breath Monitor
Truck Exhaust
Exhaust from vehicles can produce carbon monoxide
Your Health
- People who are exposed by carbon monoxide develop flu like symptoms like dizziness and an upset stomach. If you are sleeping or are intoxicated, it is possible that you can die without experiencing any symptoms
- If you are highly exposed to carbon monoxide, your symptoms can worsen from vomiting to loss of consciousness.
- Young children, elderly people, people that have lung or heart disease, and smokers that have already been exposed to elevated carbon monoxide levels are highly at risk to get carbon monoxide poisoning
- Carbon monoxide when exposed removes oxygen from blood and causes major organs to become deprived of oxygen. Becoming overly exposed to carbon monoxide, can cause loss of consciousness and suffocation
Global Issues
- "Carbon monoxide readily reacts with the hydroxyl radical (OH) forming a much stronger, greenhouse gas--carbon dioxide. This, in turn, increases concentrations of methane, another strong greenhouse gas, because the most common way methane is removed from the atmosphere is when it reacts with OH"
- "Although carbon monoxide is only a weak greenhouse gas, its influence on climate goes beyond its own direct effects. Its presence affects concentrations of other greenhouse gases including methane, tropospheric ozone and carbon dioxide"
Works Cited
- Ajmani, Vinod K. "Carbon Monoxide Poisoning." CO-Nu (n.d.): n. pag.Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Web.
- "Carbon Monoxide: Its Environmental Impact." Institute for Global Environmental Strategies. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
- "DANGER!" (n.d.): n. pag. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. Web.
- "Frequently Asked Questions." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 Feb. 2015. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
- Mohney, Gillian. "Deadly Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: How You Can Protect Yourself." ABC News. ABC News Network, 7 Apr. 2015. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.
- "You Can Prevent Carbon Monoxide Exposure." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 21 Oct. 2011. Web. 08 Apr. 2015.