Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Carbon monoxide problems

According to the Star Tribune, there have been several, nonfatal carbon monoxide related hospital admissions in Minnesota.  An improperly running apartment boiler, an idling car in a garage and poorly operating furnaces were the causes. 

Carbon monoxide is an odorless colorless gas that is the product of incomplete combustion.  When a carbon based fuel is burned in an oxygen deficient atmosphere carbon monoxide is produced instead of carbon dioxide. 

In the blood, carbon monoxide binds to the hemoglobin molecule and replaces oxygen.  The carbon monoxide molecule binds more than 700x more efficiently that oxygen.  Symptoms of exposure include cherry red lips, headache, nausea and loss of consciousness.  As a child, I  suffered overexposure while riding in back of a car pulling a camper.  A leaking exhaust pipe allowed the gas into the car.  I had a headache and was nauseated. 

Treatment for overexposure includes fresh air and oxygen sometimes provided with a hyperbaric chamber.

http://www.empowher.com/media/reference/carbon-monoxide-poisoning

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