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Carbon Monoxide Hazards Identified by Innovative IAQ Test Kit

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:11:52 EST

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-irritating, but potentially lethal gas produced during the combustion of liquid, solid, and gaseous fuels. CO may be produced from any furnace fired by fuel, wood stoves, kerosene heaters, gas stoves, and fireplaces. Other common sources include exhaust from motor vehicles, and emissions from charcoal grills and fuel-powered yard equipment. The most common causes of elevated CO levels in buildings are poorly vented or malfunctioning heaters and furnaces.
 
Short-term, or acute, effects of CO exposure are related to the CO concentration, the duration of exposure, and a person's health status. Symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, dizziness, fatigue, heart palpitations, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, mental confusion, rapid heartbeat, visual disturbances, and muscle twitch. At very high levels, unconsciousness and death may result.
 
Long-term, or chronic, exposure to low levels of CO can lead to a variety of symptoms that mimic the flu; including headache, fatigue, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and changes in sensitivity to light, odors, and taste. The populations more sensitive to long-term CO exposures include fetuses, those with chronic heart disease, young children, the elderly, and those with chronic bronchitis or asthma.
 
To help people identify carbon monoxide levels, IAQ Index has developed an easy to use test kit.  'IAQ Index has created an easy to understand rating system for the level of carbon monoxide found using the IAQ Index test kit,' reported Bruce Jacobs, CIH, President of IAQ Index.  'The indoor environment is labeled good ("green") if the CO level is found to be less than 3 ppm; marginal ("yellow") if the level is in the range of 3 to 9 ppm; poor ("red") for levels ranging from above 9 to 25 ppm; and dangerous ("black") if the TLV of 25 ppm is exceeded.'
 
To learn more about testing for carbon monoxide or other indoor air quality contaminants, please visit IAQ Index at http://www.IAQIndex.com, email info@IAQIndex.com or call (888) 259-3883.
 
About IAQ Index
IAQ Index was developed by a Certified Industrial Hygienist with decades of experience dealing with indoor air quality issues.  IAQ Index was developed as a health-based, easy-to-understand, air quality index that is calculated from data generated for various parameters commonly measured during IAQ surveys.  The approach is similar to the EPA's Air Quality Index that has been used historically to communicate the risks posed by common pollutants in the ambient air.