Carbon Monoxide Facts

1. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas.  It is undetectable by human senses.  (If someone tells you they smell carbon monoxide, they're dreaming.)
   
   
2. You could be in a room filled with carbon monoxide and NOT notice it.
   
   
3. Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of incomplete combustion of just about anything that burns.
   
   
4. All flames produce some amount of carbon monoxide.  This includes cigarettes and cigars, pipe tobacco, candles, gas stoves, gas ovens, gas space heaters, gas fireplaces and gas furnaces.
   
   
5. Gas appliances that have adequate air and are properly adjusted produce LESS carbon monoxide than a lit cigarette.
   
   
6. Carbon monoxide poisoning is NOT caused by faulty appliances, it is caused by "faulty" air movement.
   
   
   
7. A gas appliance with a properly connected and sized flue, even with the poorest possible adjustments and operating conditions, will not introduce carbon monoxide into a house.  The carbon monoxide will vent up the flue.
   
   
8. A properly operating gas appliance with a blocked or defective flue can kill you because the combustion products are venting into the home.
   
   
9. Gas appliances and flues should be checked at least yearly.
   
   
10. Contrary to media reports, thousands of people do NOT die each year in the U.S. due to carbon monoxide poisoning from gas appliances.  Hundreds of people do NOT die each year in the U.S. due to carbon monoxide poisoning from gas appliances.
    
    
11. On average, less than 100 people die each year in the U.S. due to carbon monoxide poisoning from gas appliances.  (That's according to CPSC records from 1994 to 2006.)
    
    
12. The human body produces and uses carbon monoxide in very small quantities.
    
    
13. The effects of carbon monoxide poisoning can be minimized by moving to fresh air.  The effects can be reduced more quickly by administering 100% oxygen, and even faster by using a hyperbaric chamber.
    
    
14. It takes over 5-1/2 hours to eliminate 50% of the carbon monoxide in the body after a high level exposure by moving to fresh air.
    
    
15. It also takes over 5-1/2 hours to eliminate 50% of the carbon monoxide in the body after a low level exposure by moving to fresh air.
    
    
16. Carbon monoxide alarms do allow fairly high level exposure before they alarm.
    
    
17. Carbon monoxide alarms should NOT be relied on as the sole protector against CO poisoning.
    
    
18. Carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced at least every five years.
    
    
19. Carbon monoxide alarms can be damaged by being exposed to large concentrations of Freon (refrigerant.)
    
    
20. Carbon monoxide alarms may be triggered by other gasses sucha as; hair spray, alcohol, carbon dioxide (dry ice), cleaning fluids, paint thinners, acetone, fingernail polish, polish remover, aerosol propellants and other petroleum-based vapors.
    
    
21. Carbon monoxide effects vary by the individual.  If a room full of people is exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide, most will have headaches, some will have nausea, some will act like they are intoxicated (slurred speech, poor balance) and a few will feel weak.
    
    The chart below lists the most common symptoms and how often they are noted when a carbon monoxide incident is reported.