[TheForge] Re: Carbon Monoxide kills

Wed May 1 15:45:01 2002

Well, being a paramedic I have seen a number of CO poisoning cases and have
had to learn a few things about it. CO is the number one cause of
unintentional poisoning deaths in the country. It is the most commonly
encountered toxin in our environment today. About 200,000 people a year
suffer myocardial infarction induced by CO. It is also the weapon of choice
in many suicide attempts. About 2,500 people die annually from CO toxicity,
roughly 80% of those intentionally. Somewhere around a quarter of those
unintentionally chronically exposed will suffer neurological damage.
Exposure to low-level CO in excess of 24-hours is considered chronic.
Somewhere between 25% and 40% of those acutely exposed to higher levels of
CO will die with about the same number suffering neurological deficit for
several days up to several years.

CO ain't nothing to take chances with. A fuel fed fire in an enclosed space
with no fresh air circulation is asking for trouble. It will produce CO to
some degree regardless of how clean the flame. A good book on the subject is
"Carbon Monoxide Toxicity" by Dr. David Penny. It has been out for a couple
of years and may be in the libraries by now.

Regards,
Donn

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Freeman" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2002 2:09 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] [TheForge]Carbon Monoxide Detector was coal
vs.charcoal

> 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.
>
> 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
> 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� to -40�F 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
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
> theforge mail list group photo site is
> http://www.photoaccess.com
> Login:  [email protected]
> password:  anvil
> ___________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
> theforge mail list group photo site is
> http://www.photoaccess.com
> Login:  [email protected]
> password:  anvil
> ___________
>
>