Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas produced when fossil fuels burn without enough air. Exposure to high levels can be lethal, causing on average 50 accidental deaths every year in the UK .
At lower levels it may produce symptoms which resemble flu or food poisoning, such as headaches, tiredness, difficulty in thinking clearly and feeling sick.
A major source of exposure to carbon monoxide is from faulty, incorrectly installed, or poorly ventilated, cooking or heating appliances which use fossil fuels (such as gas, oil and coal). It is important to have all cooking and heating appliances which use fossil fuels installed and serviced regularly by a suitably qualified, reputable and registered engineer. Installation and servicing should be carried out by registered engineers e.g. CORGI (for gas appliances), HETAS (for solid fuel appliances) and OFTEC (for oil appliances). Chimneys and flues should be swept from top to bottom at least once a year by a qualified sweep and should not be blocked. It is important to make sure that rooms in which these appliances are used are adequately ventilated.
Fitting an audible carbon monoxide alarm that meets British or European Standards (BS Kitemark or EN 50291) will help to protect you from exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide. The alarm will not go off if you are being exposed to lower levels of carbon monoxide so it should not be used as a substitute for regular servicing of appliances.
If you think you are being exposed to carbon monoxide, you should stop using all your heating and cooking appliances. Move away from the source of exposure (for example a faulty domestic appliance) to a well-ventilated area, open your windows and move outside. When people are removed from the source of carbon monoxide exposure, their symptoms usually subside. If you think you have been exposed to carbon monoxide and feel unwell or are worried call NHSDirect on 0845 46 47, or in an emergency call 999.
For more information about the health effects of carbon monoxide please see FAQs at:
http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&Page&HPAwebAutoListName/Page/1190384159845?p=1190384159845
For further information about carbon monoxide please see the HPA compendium of chemical hazards
http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&Page&HPAwebAutoListName/Page/1190384159835?p=1190384159835
The following websites also contain useful information:
Carbon monoxide:
NHS Direct
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
Department of Health
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Healthandsocialcaretopics/DH_4076849
Health and Safety Executive
http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/co.htm
The Carbon Monoxide and Gas Safety Society
www.co-gassafety.co.uk
CO - Awareness
www.co-awareness.org
Gas:
HSE Gas Safety Line: 0800 300 363
www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/index.htm
CORGI helpline: 0800 915 0480
www.trustcorgi.com
Solid fuel:
Solid Fuel Association (SFA) helpline: 0845 601 4406
www.solidfuel.co.uk
Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme (HETAS) general number: 0845 634 5626
www.hetas.co.uk
Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) helpline: 0845 658 5080
www.oftec.org
Chimney sweeps:
National Association of Chimney Sweeps
http://www.chimneyworks.co.uk/
The Guild of Master Sweepers
http://www.guild-of-master-sweeps.co.uk/
Indoor air pollution:
Department of Health
www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/comeap
and
Indoor air pollution: Carbon monoxide
Useful information for health professionals:
HPA compendium of chemical hazards
http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&Page&HPAwebAutoListName/Page/1190384159835?p=1190384159835
Chief Medical Officer Update number 43 (2006) http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/CMOupdate/DH_4126235
Chief Medical Officer letter (2002)
PL CMO (2002)2: Carbon monoxide: The forgotten killer
Article in the Chemical Hazards and Poisons Report Issue 10: Development of a carbon monoxide 'action card' for public health practitioners
Chemical Hazards and Poisons Report - Issue 10 - September 2007 (PDF, 2.3 MB)
Last reviewed: 16 June 2008