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Appendix E: CARBON MONOXIDE FACTS
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is invisible, odorless, and tasteless. It is the byproduct of
combustion and levels are elevated when there is incomplete combustion.
Sources of CO include:
Unvented kerosene and gas space heaters
Leaking chimneys & furnaces
Gas water heaters
Back drafting from furnaces
Wood stoves& fireplaces
Gas Stoves
Automobile exhaust
Tobacco smoke
Carbon Monoxide is picked up quickly in the body by red blood cells. At high lev-
els of CO the body replaces oxygen with carbon monoxide.
The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weak-
ness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. High levels of CO inhalation
can cause loss of consciousness and death. Unless suspected, CO poisoning can
be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms mimic other illnesses.
People who are sleeping or intoxicated can die from CO poisoning before ever
experiencing symptoms.
Please see the next page for a list of exposure times and symptoms.
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