[TheForge] [TheForge]Carbon Monoxide Detector was coal vs. charcoal

Wed May 1 15:14:02 2002

I can't say for sure that CO doesn't sensitize you in any way, but it is =
not cumulative in the same sense that lead and other heavy metals are =
cumulative.  Lead will actually accumulate in your body and the toxic =
effects can continue until it's eliminated. =20

Carbon monoxide poisons some of your red blood cells.  It binds to the =
hemoglobin, just like oxygen does, but then doesn't let go.  I don't know =
whether these cells will recover, but they will be replaced in time.  So =
over the short term (like maybe a week) carbon monoxide exposure would be =
cumulative in its effect, but not over the long term.

I don't know whether this is the only toxic effect of CO.  In principal it =
could poison you the same way cyanide does - by tying up the enzymes in =
the metabolic pathway - suffocating you at the cellular level.  That's =
what cyanide does.  CO is similar in some ways to cyanide (and molecular =
oxygen, which is the whole problem) but binds much more weakly, so perhaps =
it won't poison the enzymes.  Any toxicologists out there?

Bruce=20
NJ

>>> "Jeff Harding" <[email protected]> 05/01/02 11:29AM >>>
Another little fact that you may all be aware of already is that CO is
accumulative.  Lots of lower level exposure can "build up" in your
system and the effects become even more toxic to you as you go.  Even
getting out of it for years and then going back, you will show the
effects much sooner than before you exposed yourself.  Or so I'm told
by doctors.
   By all means...be careful and ventilate

   Jeff   ><>

> > Jerry and all:
> >
> > I have yet to hear of any smith over come by CO, I do often take a
digital
> CO detector to meetings. Most of us have well insulated shops due to
our
> climate -20=BA to -40=BAF is the norm in the winter. Even with a door
open a
> coal forge can have a 500 square foot shop to 400 parts per million
(ppm)of
> CO in minutes. Propane seems to sit at 8 ppm per forge. One of the
ways I
> tune my propane forge is by monitoring my CO output. Both Propane
and Coal
> use up oxygen.  I just saying this for everyone to be aware that CO
can be a
> problem, If you have any symptoms of CO poisoning ie: slight
headache,
> fatique, dizziness or nausea; then get out. Be Carefull Out There
> >
> > regards Daryl

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