Carbon Monoxide
Be Aware of the Warning Signs of Carbon Monoxide:
Clues You Can See...
•Streaks of carbon or soot around the service door of your
•Ayellow or orange flame may indicate a problem with natural gas appliances.
•Excessive rusting on flue pipes or appliance jackets.
•Loose or missing furnace panel.
•Moisture collecting on the windows and walls of furnace rooms.
•Loose or disconnected vent/chimney, fireplace or appliance.
•Small amounts of water leaking from the base of the chimney, vent or flue pipe.
•Rust on the portion of the vent pipe visible from outside your home.
•The absence of a draft in your chimney (indicating blockage).
•Fallen soot from the fireplace chimney.
•Loose, damaged or discolored bricks on your chimney.
Clues You Cannot See...
•Internal appliance damage or malfunctioning components
•Improper burner adjustment
•Hidden blockage or damage in chimneys
Understand the Effects of Carbon Monoxide Exposure:
Concentration
of CO in the Air
(ppm = parts per million) Approximate Inhalation Time and Symptoms Developed
50 ppm The maximum allowable concentration for continuous expo- sure for healthy adults in any
200 ppm Slight headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea after
400ppm Frontal headaches within
800 ppm Dizziness, nausea and convulsions within 45 minutes. Unconsciousness within 2 hours. Death within
1,600 ppm Headache, dizziness and nausea within 20 minutes. Death within 1 hour.
3,200 ppm Headache, dizziness and nausea within
6,400 ppm Headache, dizziness and nausea within
12,800 ppm Death within
* Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Reminder: This chart relates to the exposure of healthy adults.
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