Minimal risk of carbon monoxide exposure with oil heat: Part I
What is carbon monoxide? Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that can be produced by all heating equipment used in homes that burn natural gas, propane, fueloil, wood, coal or other home heating fuels. Carbon monoxide is extremely hazardous even in very small concentrations and can produce injury or death when it reaches only a fraction of one percent in the air. The recent reports of injury and death by exposure to carbon monoxide have alerted homeowners to the serious nature of exposure to this gaseous byproduct of fuel burning. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has set 9 parts per million carbon monoxide are shown as its concentration in air increases. CO replaces the oxygen in blood and causes hypoxia (lack of oxygen) which can damage the body`s circulatory and central nervous systems leading to injury or death depending on the time of exposure and CO concentration.
- OSTI ID:
- 376873
- Journal Information:
- Fueloil and Oil Heat with Air Conditioning, Journal Name: Fueloil and Oil Heat with Air Conditioning Vol. 54; ISSN 1060-9725; ISSN FOHCEU
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Carbon monoxide poisoning - Immediate diagnosis and treatment are crucial to avoid complications.
Minimal risk of carbon monoxide exposure with oil heat: Part II