Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs as a result of inhalation of toxic carbon monoxide fumes.  These fumes are emitted from the combustion generated by automobiles, heaters, stoves, lanterns, fires and cigarette smoke.  Between 1985 and 1990, more than 250 deaths occurred as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning, and close to 80 percent of these were linked to furnaces and room heaters. The majority of these deaths were attributed to fumes emitted from natural gas water heaters and natural gas furnaces.

 Effects of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

When carbon monoxide is inhaled and enters the blood stream it interferes with the ability of the blood to supply oxygen to different parts of the body. Hemoglobin, the blood molecule which is responsible for oxygen supply, finds carbon monoxide easier to carry through the body than oxygen. The carbon monoxide binds tightly with the hemoglobin molecule and is transported to various parts of the body through the blood. This results in body cells being depleted of fresh oxygen, eventually contributing to cell death.

Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

• Difficulty breathing, dizziness, fatigue or headaches. 
• Change in skin tone to a bright cherry pink, but this is not the case in all poisoning cases.
• As the cells become more depleted of oxygen, there is a disturbance in eye hand coordination, nausea, vomiting, and mental confusion.
• In severe carbon monoxide poisoning, the person may be unable to move their body parts. 
• Hallucination may occur.
• Body temperature may become lowered in a condition called hypothermia.
• Blood pressure may drop.
• Convulsions may occur.
• Cardiac failure may occur.
• In extreme cases, death can result from carbon monoxide poisoning.

 Sources of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

When a person exhibits symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, the source can usually be traced to unvented kerosene heaters, barbecue grills, gas furnaces and heaters, gas dryers, gas powered cooking ranges and ovens, propane run refrigerators and wood burning stoves in the home. Outside the house, sources of poisoning may be in the form of a car emitting carbon monoxide fumes in a garage, lawnmowers, camping gear like lanterns and stoves, as well as wood burning stoves.  

Since 1995, several indoor and outdoor consumer products linked to carbon monoxide emissions have been recalled.  Certain models of carbon monoxide detectors and alarms configured to detect and warn consumers of emissions have also been recalled due to inefficiency and inability to detect increasing levels of carbon monoxide.