Carbon Monoxide Pollution
Morgan Kinch
Carbon monoxide is a gas that is odorless and colorless. This gas can kill you.
Carbon Monoxide harms your health and well being.
Carbon Monoxide has symptoms like the flu, and is commonly mistaken for the flu. This affects a persons health because they have headaches, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. Some people have a hard time breathing. If you are stuck in the house to long it can give you CO poisoning which leads to death if you don't get out. Breathing in a higher level of Carbon monoxide can kill you, breathing in lower levels of Carbon monoxide permanently harm your heart and brain. Carbon monoxide can also cause heart or lung disease.
You can protect yourself against Carbon Monoxide pollution.
To protect your family in your car, have regular checkups with your mechanic to check the exhaust system of your car or truck. A leak could lead to CO build up in your car or truck. Another way to protect yourself and reduce this pollution is to never run your car in a garage when the garage door is closed. Always open the door detached to your garage open to freshen the garage. To prevent CO pollution in your home, install a CO detector in your home, battery operated to help detect CO build up. This will help reduce gas build up in your home. Also, check to see if your gas appliances are vented properly.
“Protect your family this winter,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord. “The best way to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning is to have a professional inspection every year and install working CO alarms in your home.” - Quote from Dr. Nancy Nord
Business Awareness that Leads to National Awareness.
NIOSH are recommending businesses that work in high levels of CO limit the number of hours workers are out there, and that shifts are rotated more often. They also recommend regulating air quality. This incident with the companies high levels of Carbon Monoxide has the government regulating the levels of CO in work areas that have CO in them. This has helped workers health.
Carbon Monoxide in the Environment.
In 1990, CO pollution in the environment was 50% from vehicles on the highway. This affects the environment by the highways. Another test in the monitoring of 41 houses in Africa, it showed that CO contributed to the ozone loss, and that smoking was also a CO pollutant, it contributed 2.4 ppm for indoor and outdoor CO.
Organizations that Raise Awareness About CO
National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) plans, directs, and coordinates a national program to maintain the health of the American people by promoting a healthy environment. There is also Safe Kids Worldwide (formerly the National SAFE KIDS Campaign) is the first and only national nonprofit organization dedicated solely to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury. They help organize events to help keep families safe from all types of things, including CO poisoning. You can raise awareness by asking you parents if they have changed the battery in the CO detector, or turn your car off if you aren't going anywhere. You can also ask your parents if they have checked if the CO vents are closed up and going the right way.
Sources
- WHO. "Environmental Health Criteria 213: Carbon Monoxide (second Edition)." WHO. N.p., 30 Nov. 2004. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
- NIOSH "CARBON MONOXIDE." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 Aug. 2013. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
- "Center for Disease Control." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 Feb. 2015. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
- CDC. "CDC and CPSC Warn of Winter Home Heating Hazards." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 07 Jan. 2009. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.