Are you sure that your vehicle and heaters are not producing more carbon monoxide than they should?

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Carbon Monoxide (CO), also called coal gas, is made up of molecules comprising one atom of carbon and one of oxygen. It is colourless, odourless, does not irritate, and is lighter than air. It is highly toxic and flammable and is a major product of the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing compounds and carbon. It is the reason why additives such as MTBE or ethanol or lead have been added to gasoline used in vehicles - they reduce its production. It is also involved in ozone pollution. Idling vehicles are particularly unhealthy, and the gas can slowly percolate through the concrete. After town gas was phased out, they became a way of committing suicide. As air-quality regulations have led to the fitting of more catalytic converters, though, there is very carbon monoxide left in the exhausts of modern engines. Biodiesel and ethanol produce far less carbon monoxide. Road transport used to account for 90% of CO2 emissions, but that is now falling.

Carbon monoxide is also present in cigarette smoke and is produced by incomplete combustion of fuels such as natural gas, oil and wood in appliances such as furnaces, ovens, ranges, stoves, and water heaters. Apart from accidental poisoning in the home, accidents can happen when SCUBA diving. Town gas, which was used before natural gas (methane), was also a major source. Carbon monoxide is also one of the gases produced by volcano magma.

Carbon monoxide can cause carbon monoxide poisoning and death in people because it binds very strongly to the iron atoms in haemoglobin, replacing the atoms of oxygen that we need to be carried around in our blood, particularly to the brain, heart and other organs. It can also damage developing foetuses. People can become unconscious and collapse before they even realise that anything is wrong. They will even look healthy because the carboxyhaemoglobin that forms in the blood is red, making them look rosy-cheeked. At lower levels it can cause drowsiness, headaches, nausea, slowed reflexes, and impaired concentration. Treatment should start with getting them out into fresh air, CPR if necessary, and oxygen.

Chronic low-level exposure to carbon monoxide is also unhealthy as it acts as a potent neurotoxin. It damages the brain. A small amount is produced naturally by the body, however.

Carbon monoxide in the atmosphere reacts with atmospheric constituents that would otherwise react with methane and tropospheric ozone, which remain as greenhouse gases as a result.

Pollution exposure linked to childhood cancer

Exposure to combustion gases, particularly engine exhaust, in utero or soon after birth appears to lead to a higher likelihood of getting childhood cancers such as leukaemia, according to a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 1,3-butadiene and carbon monoxide were particularly implicated.

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Perseid Meteor Shower

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