4. What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an insidious poison that is released when
fuels are burnt. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas and therefore
very difficult to detect with the human senses. CO kills hundreds of
people each year and injures many more. It binds to the hemoglobin
in the blood and reduces the amount of oxygen being circulated in
the body.
In high concentrations, CO can kill within minutes.
CO is produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels such as wood,
charcoal, coal, heating oil, paraffin, petrol, natural gas, propane, butane
etc.
Common Sources of CO are:
Attached garages / Oil and Gas furnaces / Wood stoves / Barbecues /
Wood and gas fireplaces / Gas appliances / Portable generators / Gas
or kerosene heaters / Clogged chimneys.
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