Altitude, activity, existing and previous exposure to carbon monoxide may also affect how sensitive a person is to the negative effects of carbon monoxide. People with diseases that affect the delivery of oxygen to the heart or brain, such as those with coronary heart disease, angina, asthma or anaemia are particularly at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning as the amount of oxygen being carried to the heart or brain is further reduced by carbon monoxide.Ĭhildren, pregnant women (see above) and older people are more at risk of harm following exposure to carbon monoxide. carbon monoxide and cancerĬarbon monoxide exposure is not expected to result in cancer Vulnerable people It can be hard to tell the difference between the effects of being exposed to carbon monoxide at low levels for a long time and other common illnesses. Exposure to higher amounts may cause movement problems, weakness, confusion, lung and heart problems, loss of consciousness and death.Įxposure to small amounts of carbon monoxide for a long time may lead to flu like symptoms with tiredness, headaches, nausea, dizziness, personality changes, memory problems, loss of vision and dementia. This reduces the amount of oxygen that can be carried round the body.Ī brief exposure to small amounts of carbon monoxide may cause headache, flushing, nausea, dizziness, vertigo, muscle pain or personality changes. When breathed in, carbon monoxide enters the blood through the lungs and attaches to the body’s oxygen carrier, haemoglobin. How exposure to carbon monoxide can affect your health Such levels are below those that are thought to cause harmful effects. However safe levels of exposure are enforced to protect workers. Workers may be exposed to carbon monoxide (for example those using liquid petroleum gas ( LPG) or petrol powered equipment in enclosed spaces). Very small amounts of carbon monoxide are also produced naturally in the human body, though this is not linked to health problems. Exposure to low levels of carbon monoxide can occur outdoors, as it is produced by vehicle exhausts and industrial processes. The use of shisha or hooka pipes may also lead to exposure. Inhaling smoke from a house fire may lead to carbon monoxide exposure.įor smokers, cigarettes are the major source of carbon monoxide. The most important source of exposure to carbon monoxide for the general public is from cooking or other fuel burning appliances which are poorly installed, faulty or used inappropriately (including inadequate ventilation).įor example, home boilers that are installed incorrectly and the use of BBQs and portable generators inside homes, caravans and tents. Exposure to carbon monoxideĬarbon monoxide is produced when fossil fuels burn without enough oxygen. Natural sources of carbon monoxide in the air include volcanoes, chemical reactions with light and natural fires. In indoor environments, oil, gas or kerosene heaters and faulty gas appliances produce significant amounts of carbon monoxide. The iron and steel industries, and industrial fuel burning in general also provide large contributions to carbon monoxide emission.īetween 19 in the UK, total releases of carbon monoxide to the environment have decreased by 79%. Road transport is the major contributor to atmospheric carbon monoxide concentrations, though these releases have decreased by 95% from 1990 to 2019. How carbon monoxide gets into the environment Uses of carbon monoxideĬarbon monoxide is used to manufacture other chemicals, including methanol and phosgene. Most combustion processes (natural or man-made) produce some carbon monoxide. Complete combustion occurs when sufficient oxygen is present and leads to the production of carbon dioxide. MIDB is a database of all hospitalizations at acute care hospitals in Michigan.Carbon monoxide is a colourless, tasteless, odourless, non-irritating gas produced as a by-product during incomplete combustion of fuels due to there being insufficient oxygen present. The hospitalizations dataset was created from the Michigan Inpatient Database (MIDB). The emergency department visits dataset was processed and created using data from the Michigan Outpatient Database (MODB) and obtained with permission from the Michigan Health and Hospitalization Association (MHA) Service Corporation.
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