Learn About IAQ

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a colorless, tasteless, odorless gas that at dangerous levels can cause illness, brain damage, or even death if there is insufficient air flow. In the U.S., over 200 deaths and several thousand cases of non-fatal poisoning per year are due to accidental exposure to CO in homes.

CO gas is created when fuels like heating oil, propane, kerosene, charcoal, gasoline, wood or natural gas are burned without enough air for complete combustion to take place. Sources of CO that can cause high concentrations in indoor air include: un-vented kerosene and gas space heaters, chimneys, improperly vented or back-drafting furnaces, generators or other gasoline powered equipment, wood stoves, fireplaces, gas stoves or gas water heaters, tobacco smoke, automobile exhaust from attached garages, and blocked flues.

Signs of CO poisoning include fatigue, nausea, trouble breathing, headaches, coughing, or dizziness, cherry lips and ear tips, or paleness. If someone experiences these symptoms, take the following actions: immediately ventilate the house by opening windows and doors, call 911 or your local fire department, and go outside into the fresh air.

Spotlight: Erie County Native CO Awareness Program

The Erie County Department of Environment and Planning (DEP) Office for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) has created a CO Awareness Program that works with Native tribes and other Erie County residents to reduce health risks associated with exposure to CO. They provide technical assistance and accurate information to increase CO awareness, offer informational pamphlets and brochures, and share information on ordering low-cost CO detectors. DEP IAQ also provides live technical support and a 24-hour hotline to answer questions about CO, as well as educational workshops, presentations and seminars. Erie County Native CO Awareness Program [Directory Listing]

Resources

EPA's Protect Your Family and Yourself from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Factsheet (PDF) (2 pp., 66 K, about PDF) aims to provide information about CO symptoms and steps to take if you believe you may have CO poisoning, as well as CO prevention and detection information. See also www.epa.gov/iaq/co.html

The American Lung Association's Carbon Monoxide Fact Sheet contains useful facts about CO, its sources and heath effects, and CO detection standards.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s fact sheets on Indoor Air Quality - www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/iaq.html "Carbon Monoxide Questions and Answers," CPSC Document #466 - www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/466.html

You can order EPA publications free of charge from EPA's National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP), visit their Website at www.epa.gov/nscep,  or call 1-800-490-9198.

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Learn About IAQ

• IAQ in Tribal Communities
• Asthma Triggers
• Secondhand Smoke
• Radon
• Moisture/Mold
• Wood Smoke
• Carbon Monoxide
• Other Pollutants

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• Learn About IAQ
• Innovative Tribal Programs
• Training: Tools You Can Use

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We want your input

Have you planned a successful and sustainable community program? If so, we would like to know. Please send us an e-mail at iaqtribal@epa.gov describing the program, and that program could be highlighted here. We will follow up with the program directly to gather more information and permission to use their story.