Why is carbon monoxide a harmful air pollutant?
Why is carbon monoxide a harmful air pollutant?
Breathing air with a high concentration of CO reduces the amount of oxygen that can be transported in the blood stream to critical organs like the heart and brain. At very high levels, which are possible indoors or in other enclosed environments, CO can cause dizziness, confusion, unconsciousness and death.
Why is car exhaust bad for the environment?
Car exhaust contains gases such as carbon dioxide that contribute to global climate change. Such gases trap heat in the atmosphere, creating a greenhouse effect that contributes to the warming of the Earth’s atmosphere, causing widespread climate change.
What is the main pollutant emitted from the exhaust fumes of motor vehicles?
Pollutants produced by vehicle exhausts include carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, particles, volatile organic compounds and sulfur dioxide. Hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides react with sunlight and warm temperatures to form ground-level ozone.
What gases are emitted from car exhaust?
The following are the major pollutants from motor vehicles:
- Particulate matter (PM). One type of particulate matter is the soot seen in vehicle exhaust.
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
- Nitrogen oxides (NOx).
- Carbon monoxide (CO).
- Sulfur dioxide (SO2).
- Greenhouse gases.
What happens if you breathe in car exhaust?
CO can increase to dangerous levels when combustion fumes become trapped in a poorly ventilated or enclosed space (such as a garage). Inhaling these fumes causes CO to build up in your bloodstream, which can lead to severe tissue damage. CO poisoning is extremely serious and can be life threatening.
What is the dangerous level of carbon monoxide?
As CO levels increase and remain above 70 ppm, symptoms become more noticeable and can include headache, fatigue and nausea. At sustained CO concentrations above 150 to 200 ppm, disorientation, unconsciousness, and death are possible.
Are low levels of carbon monoxide harmful?
You may lose balance, vision and memory and, eventually, you may lose consciousness. This can happen within 2 hours if there’s a lot of carbon monoxide in the air. Long-term exposure to low levels of carbon monoxide can also lead to neurological symptoms, such as: difficulty thinking or concentrating.
What is a bad reading on carbon monoxide?
What will the results look like?
| Reading | Suggests |
|---|---|
| 10 ppm and over | recent exposure to a high level of carbon monoxide. This is a typical reading for smokers |
| 5–9 ppm | recent exposure to a moderate level of carbon monoxide. This may mean that you’re a smoker, or that you’ve been exposed to second-hand smoke |
What does 97 mean on a carbon monoxide detector?
If the detector beeps once every 10-20 seconds or if you have a detector that displays numbers and reads 97 or L.B. most likely there is a malfunction of the detector or the battery is going dead
What is the correct mounting height for a carbon monoxide detector?
about 5 feet
What should I look for when buying a carbon monoxide detector?
Look for carbon monoxide detectors that are battery-powered or include a backup battery in the event of a power outage. All-in-one smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are popular to save space, installation time and money.
What is the most sensitive carbon monoxide detector?
Kidde KN-COU-B
How can I get a free carbon monoxide detector 2020?
Many local professional and volunteer fire departments offer periodic free giveaways that include carbon monoxide detectors and/or smoke detectors. Check the websites of or contact directly your local and municipal fire departments to find information on their free carbon monoxide detector and similar programs.
Can you test yourself for carbon monoxide poisoning?
There isn’t a self-diagnosis option for carbon monoxide poisoning, but anyone with confusion or a loss of consciousness should have 911 called for them.