Carbon monoxide and stove heating. What does carbon monoxide smell like? Carbon monoxide has
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The appearance of carbon monoxide in apartments on the upper floors is a fairly common phenomenon for several reasons (if you do not take into account the conspiracy theory):
- In case of malfunction of chimneys and equipment connected to them (gas water heaters, heating boilers).
- If gas equipment is not operating correctly.
- Carbon monoxide comes from the ventilation system.
- Combustion products (which contain a large percentage of carbon monoxide) enter the room from outside.
Let's try to figure it out.
1 You indicated that there was a gas water heater in the apartment. The first question is, where was it connected?
The fact is that in residential buildings with central heating, chimneys are not provided for by the design. As a rule, in apartments of five-story buildings there are two hoods: one in the kitchen, and one in the bathroom (if it is combined; if it is separate, then the two ventilation holes are combined into one shaft). All hoods are designed for natural ventilation. We mentioned this so that you understand: if you vented combustion products into the ventilation (in the kitchen), then the neighbors below could (and most likely did) connect their heating appliances in the same way.
Now imagine, all the apartments along the riser (and in fact, half of the apartments are enough) have heating systems and hoods turned on: the cross-section of the ventilation duct is not designed for such a throughput, the polluted air does not have time to escape and is forced into the upper apartments. Why do the upper apartments suffer? This is due to the design of the ventilation system in five-story buildings (the almost complete absence of a satellite channel) and incorrect connection of gas appliances.
2 You wrote that you blocked the hood. Question two: in the kitchen and in the bathroom or only in the kitchen? What about the hole to which the speaker was connected?
In order to find out whether air is reaching you from the ventilation system, stick strips of paper on the top of the exhaust vent. If their free ends are drawn into the shaft, then the exhaust ventilation is working normally.
Important: do this with the windows and doors closed - in general, without air flow. Experience will show how the ventilation system behaves in everyday life, and not in ideal conditions. If, with the windows closed, the strips of paper remain in place or (much worse) deviate towards the home, then it is quite possible that carbon monoxide still enters the room from the ventilation (not a closed hole). If you find that the ventilation is blowing, try opening the windows. If it helps, then there is no air flow in your apartment, which has caused reverse draft. This problem can be solved by installing wall and window valves.
3 Question three: Is there a dependence of poisoning on the time of year?
There is an assumption that most likely carbon monoxide poisoning occurs during the heating season. The reason may be that the isolation of the ventilation duct on your riser is broken. In other words, the chimney and ventilation duct or two ventilation ducts are connected.
Signs that carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide (II), carbon monoxide, carbon monoxide) has formed in the air in a dangerous concentration are difficult to determine - invisible, may not smell, accumulates in the room gradually, imperceptibly. It is extremely dangerous for human life: it is highly toxic; excessive levels in the lungs lead to severe poisoning and death. A high mortality rate from gas poisoning is recorded annually. The threat of poisoning can be reduced by following simple rules and using special carbon dioxide detectors.
What is carbon monoxide
Natural gas is formed during the combustion of any biomass; in industry, it is a product of the combustion of any carbon-based compounds. In both cases, a prerequisite for the release of gas is a lack of oxygen. Large volumes of it enter the atmosphere as a result of forest fires, in the form of exhaust gases generated during the combustion of fuel in car engines. For industrial purposes it is used in the production of organic alcohol, sugar, processing of animal meat and fish. A small amount of monoxide is also produced by human cells.
Properties
From a chemical point of view, monoxide is an inorganic compound with a single oxygen atom in the molecule, the chemical formula is CO. This is a chemical substance that has no characteristic color, taste or smell, it is lighter than air, but heavier than hydrogen, and is inactive at room temperatures. A person who smells only feels the presence of organic impurities in the air. It belongs to the category of toxic products; death at a concentration in the air of 0.1% occurs within one hour. The maximum permissible concentration characteristic is 20 mg/cub.m.
Effect of carbon monoxide on the human body
Carbon monoxide is deadly to humans. Its toxic effect is explained by the formation of carboxyhemoglobin in blood cells, a product of the addition of carbon monoxide (II) to blood hemoglobin. A high level of carboxyhemoglobin causes oxygen starvation, insufficient oxygen supply to the brain and other tissues of the body. With mild intoxication, its content in the blood is low; natural destruction is possible within 4-6 hours. At high concentrations, only medications are effective.
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide is one of the most dangerous substances. In case of poisoning, intoxication of the body occurs, accompanied by a deterioration in the general condition of the person. It is very important to recognize the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning early. The result of treatment depends on the level of the substance in the body and how quickly help arrives. In this case, minutes count - the victim can either be completely cured, or remain sick forever (it all depends on the speed of response of the rescuers).
Symptoms
Depending on the degree of poisoning, headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, rapid heartbeat, nausea, shortness of breath, flickering in the eyes, and general weakness may occur. Drowsiness is often observed, which is especially dangerous when a person is in a polluted room. When a large amount of toxic substances enters the respiratory system, convulsions, loss of consciousness, and in especially severe cases, coma are observed.
First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning
The victim should be provided with first aid on the spot in case of carbon monoxide poisoning. You must immediately move him to fresh air and call a doctor. You should also remember about your safety: when entering a room with a source of this substance, you should only take a deep breath, and do not breathe inside. Until the doctor arrives, it is necessary to facilitate the access of oxygen to the lungs: unbutton buttons, remove or loosen clothes. If the victim loses consciousness and stops breathing, artificial ventilation is necessary.
Antidote for poisoning
A special antidote (antidote) for carbon monoxide poisoning is a medication that actively prevents the formation of carboxyhemoglobin. The action of the antidote leads to a decrease in the body's need for oxygen, supporting organs sensitive to lack of oxygen: the brain, liver, etc. It is administered intramuscularly in a dosage of 1 ml immediately after removing the patient from an area with a high concentration of toxic substances. The antidote can be re-administered no earlier than an hour after the first administration. It can be used for prevention.
Treatment
In case of mild exposure to carbon monoxide, treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis; in severe cases, the patient is hospitalized. Already in the ambulance he is given an oxygen bag or mask. In severe cases, in order to give the body a large dose of oxygen, the patient is placed in a pressure chamber. An antidote is injected intramuscularly. Blood gas levels are constantly monitored. Further rehabilitation is medicinal, the actions of doctors are aimed at restoring the functioning of the brain, cardiovascular system, and lungs.
Consequences
Exposure to carbon monoxide on the body can cause serious illnesses: changes in brain performance, behavior, and consciousness of a person, and unexplained headaches appear. Memory, the part of the brain that is responsible for the transition of short-term memory to long-term memory, is especially susceptible to the influence of harmful substances. The patient may feel the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning only after several weeks. Most victims recover fully after a period of rehabilitation, but some suffer the consequences for the rest of their lives.
Today I want to tell you about carbon monoxide danger, often leading to the death of people. Unlike the “usual” signs of a fire, when a person sees smoke or an open fire, carbon monoxide is almost impossible to notice (therefore, most often people do not burn alive in a fire, but die after inhaling smoke and carbon monoxide, even at the initial stage of the fire). And if carbon monoxide is formed or enters the room at night when you are sleeping, the probability of never waking up is very high.
Causes of carbon monoxide in the room
Carbon monoxide enters the atmospheric air during any type of combustion. In cities, carbon monoxide is mainly found in exhaust gases from internal combustion engines; it is also formed during the combustion of household gas (with insufficient oxygen in the air), heating furnaces and fires.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is possible:
- in case of fires;
- in garages with poor ventilation, in other unventilated or poorly ventilated rooms, tunnels, since the car exhaust contains up to 1-3% CO according to standards and over 10% if the carburetor engine is poorly adjusted;
- when spending a long time on a busy road or next to it in calm weather. Attention! On large highways, the average concentration of CO exceeds the poisoning threshold (therefore, you should not drive on such roads with the car window open);
- at home when burning domestic gas in conditions of lack of oxygen and poor ventilation;
- when the stove dampers are untimely closed in rooms with stove heating (at home).
Carbon monoxide actively binds to hemoglobin in human blood, forming carboxyhemoglobin, and blocks the transfer of oxygen to tissue cells, which leads to hemic hypoxia. Carbon monoxide is also included in oxidative reactions, disturbing the biochemical balance in tissues.
In other words, when carbon monoxide is inhaled, its molecules “take” the place of oxygen in a person’s blood, which can lead to his death.
Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning
The first symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are headache, tinnitus, tachycardia, dizziness and nausea.
If the concentration of carbon monoxide in the room increases, then more severe nausea, difficulty breathing, a feeling of lack of air and shortness of breath appear. If a person has any serious diseases, including the respiratory system or the cardiovascular system, then pathological reflexes, disturbances in mental activity, and also manifestations of agitation or stupor, even coma, are possible. Often there is a short-term loss of consciousness (for a period of up to twenty minutes).
When the concentration of carbon monoxide continues to increase, the victim begins to experience drowsiness, or, conversely, excitability. Coordination of movement may be impaired and hallucinations may appear. If first aid is not provided, death can occur within half an hour.
If the air contains more than 1% CO (and this is a very high concentration), after inhaling this substance, death can occur after two to three minutes.
First aid measures for carbon monoxide poisoning
1. If you entered a room and immediately found it difficult to breathe (in the absence of smoke) or smelled a strong smell of gas (in the event of a domestic gas leak), and at the same time you see that there are people in the room who need help, you should leave the door into the open room and call someone for help (including by calling 01 or 03).
2. If you decide to provide assistance to the victims yourself:
— place a piece of cloth moistened with water to your face and only after that quickly enter the room;
- if possible, open the windows immediately; if not, try to take the victim out of the room into fresh air as quickly as possible;
- Having carried out the victims, quickly leave the room and wait for the specialists to arrive.
Help for a carbon monoxide victim:
- if the victim is conscious, provide continuous access to fresh air and short-term inhalation of ammonia, rub the body. Call an ambulance;
- if the victim is unconscious, it is necessary to immediately begin artificial respiration until he regains consciousness or until the ambulance arrives;
- if a victim of carbon monoxide came to his senses, but was unconscious for a long time, then he must be urgently transported to a medical facility and treated. Carbon monoxide poisoning is determined by a blood test.
Attention! Be sure to tell your emergency physician if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning.
Is it worth eliminating the source of carbon monoxide yourself, before specialists arrive?
It all depends on whether you were able to immediately see this source of carbon monoxide and determine that it was the cause of the incident. Then you should really evaluate your capabilities, that you can eliminate this cause within a few tens of seconds (!!!). For example, you can quickly close the valve on a gas pipe if carbon monoxide is formed due to improper combustion of gas due to lack of air. But if the reason for filling the room with carbon monoxide was a wood-burning stove with a clogged chimney, you will not be able to quickly deal with the problem.
Another case is that carbon monoxide formed in a tightly closed garage due to the car engine being left running. Here, to begin with, it will be enough to open the gate wide enough to reduce the concentration of carbon monoxide, and then you should turn off the car engine.
Remember that the longer you are in a room with carbon monoxide, the more likely it is that you yourself will become a victim of it.
How to prevent the formation of carbon monoxide and subsequent poisoning
1. Comply with fire safety requirements.
2. Do not violate the rules for operating stove heating: untimely closing of the stove damper, insufficient access of fresh air to the firebox, poor draft can easily cause the formation of carbon monoxide in the room.
3. Before using the stove, check the draft in the chimney, as well as its integrity and absence of cracks (including in the entire structure of the stove).
4. Do not carry out vehicle maintenance in a garage or area with poor ventilation.
5. Never sleep in a car with the engine running in a garage.
6. Do not use a charcoal grill in an enclosed barbecue area with poor ventilation.
7. In the room where an autonomous gas boiler is installed, as well as a gas stove, the window should be slightly open during their operation (especially if this room has plastic windows, the frames of which do not have gaps through which air from the street would penetrate into the room ).
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be more easily avoided by using a self-contained alarm or carbon monoxide detector in your home. If the concentration of carbon monoxide in a residential building or technical room exceeds the permissible level, the sensor signals, warning of danger. Carbon monoxide alarms are electrochemical sensors designed to continuously monitor the level of CO in indoor air and respond with sound and light signals to increased levels of carbon monoxide concentration.
Facts about the dangers of carbon monoxide
Cases of carbon monoxide poisoning are, unfortunately, not that rare. Here is one of the latest - dated January 14, 2015 - Tragedy in Kuban: 9 people were poisoned by carbon monoxide, 2 children died:
What is carbon monoxide and where is it formed?
Carbon monoxide is formed during the incomplete combustion of various substances. Carbon monoxide has been an everyday companion of people for a long time. It is released into the atmosphere in large quantities by vehicles, gas stoves, fuel heating systems, during smoking, and even by the person himself when breathing.
Since this gas is odorless, it is almost impossible to detect its increased content in a room. According to statistics, carbon monoxide intoxication ranks second among the causes of death from toxic substances, second only to alcohol and its surrogates.
Why is carbon monoxide dangerous?
What happens when a person breathes in air with a high concentration of CO? To do this, you need to remember what function the lungs perform. A person breathes to saturate all systems and organs of his body with oxygen, otherwise hypoxia and death will occur. Carbon monoxide combines with the main blood protein to form carboxyhemoglobin. This deprives red blood cells of the ability to deliver oxygen to blood cells, and, as a result, carbon monoxide poisoning occurs. The consequences vary depending on the severity of such intoxication. First, hypoxia manifests itself in the form of dizziness, weakness in the legs, and darkening of the eyes. If the concentration of carbon monoxide increases, confusion and death occur.
There are constant low levels of carbon monoxide in the air in every major city. Signs of chronic poisoning with this gas include causeless headaches, fatigue, weakness, irritability and sleep problems. Smoking residents of megacities and people forced to breathe tobacco smoke are especially affected. The carbon monoxide content in the lungs of these people exceeds the norm by forty times.
How to protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning?
To minimize the risk of toxicity from this substance, you need to know where its concentrations can be dangerously high. Carbon monoxide is always deadly in unventilated areas. Therefore, you should not turn on the car engine in a closed garage or box. Also, do not lock the damper in a room with a stove or other fuel heating. Cooking on a gas stove is a reason to open the window. There is a huge danger of getting caught in fires and explosions, so an attempt to save property when the fire is small can be fatal. Often people die in their sleep precisely because they did not feel sick in time due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Unfortunately, it is practically impossible to completely protect yourself from carbon monoxide in large cities. Getting carbon monoxide while smoking is voluntary, but it is better to protect yourself from passive smoking. Doctors advise against jogging or cycling near busy highways. By doing this you will do yourself more harm than good. For sports, it is better to choose a quiet park or alley, which are located away from places where carbon monoxide accumulates.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, very light gas (lighter than air) and odorless. But the “smell of carbon monoxide” is felt due to impurities of organic elements in the fuel. Carbon monoxide appears every time you burn wood in your home. The main cause of carbon monoxide is an insufficient amount of oxygen in the combustion area.
The occurrence of waste
Carbon monoxide in the home occurs when carbon is burned due to a lack of oxygen. Combustion of fuel in furnaces occurs in several stages:
- First, the carbon burns, releasing carbon dioxide CO2;
- The carbon dioxide then comes into contact with the hot remains of coke or coal, creating carbon monoxide;
- The carbon monoxide then burns (blue flame) to produce carbon dioxide, which escapes through the chimney.
Without draft in the stove (the chimney is clogged, there is no supply air for combustion, the damper is closed prematurely), the coals continue to smolder without a weak supply of oxygen, so carbon monoxide does not burn and can disperse throughout the heated room, causing a toxic effect on the body and poisoning (carbon monoxide).
Factors of carbon dioxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, making it very dangerous. The causes of smoke inhalation poisoning can be:
- Malfunctioning fireplace stove and chimney (clogged chimney, cracks in the stove).
- Violation (closing of the stove damper untimely, poor draft, insufficient access to the firebox of fresh air).
- The presence of a person at the very source of the fire.
- Car maintenance in a low-ventilated area.
- The use of low-quality air in breathing apparatus and scuba gear.
- Sleeping in a car with the engine running.
- Using a grill with low ventilation.
Signals and signs of poisoning
At a low concentration of gas, the first signs of toxic effects and poisoning may form: lacrimation, dizziness and pain, nausea and weakness, confusion, dry cough, and there may be auditory and visual hallucinations. If you feel the symptoms of poisoning, you need to get out into fresh air as soon as possible.
If you spend a long period of time in a room with a low density of carbon monoxide, symptoms of poisoning occur: tachycardia, difficulty breathing, loss of coordination, drowsiness, visual hallucinations, blue discoloration of the facial skin and mucous membranes, vomiting, loss of consciousness, and there may be convulsions.
With increased concentrations, loss of consciousness and coma with convulsions occur. Without first aid, the victim may die from smoke inhalation.
The effects of carbon monoxide in the home on the human body
Carbon monoxide enters through the lungs, contacts hemoglobin in the blood and prevents the transfer of oxygen to organs and tissues. Oxygen starvation disrupts the nervous system and brain function. The higher the carbon monoxide concentration and the longer the period spent in the room, the stronger the poisoning and the greater the likelihood of death.
After poisoning, medical supervision is required for several days, as complications are often observed. Victims with severe poisoning must be hospitalized. Problems with the nervous system and lungs are possible even weeks after the incident. Interestingly, carbon monoxide affects women less than men.
Carbon monoxide detector for home
Poisoning or carbon inhalation can be prevented by using a self-contained carbon monoxide alarm or sensor. If the volume of carbon monoxide in a residential or technical room exceeds the permissible level, the sensor will signal, warning of the threat. Carbon monoxide alarms are electrochemical sensors designed to continuously monitor indoor CO levels and respond with light and sound signals to high levels of carbon monoxide in the air.
When you decide to buy a carbon monoxide alarm for your home, pay attention to the features (even if they are similar in appearance) of the devices: an open fire detector and a smoke alarm, a carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide detector reacts to different elements in the air of the room. Carbon monoxide detectors for the home are installed at a height of one and a half meters from the floor (some recommend installing 15–20 cm from the ceiling). The carbon dioxide detector should be placed near the instrument panel or at floor level (carbon dioxide is much heavier than air), and the smoke detector should be on the ceiling.
In many countries, the use of the above sensors is a mandatory condition required by law to ensure the safety and health of the population. In Europe, only a smoke detector is required. For us, installing a carbon monoxide detector is currently voluntary. Such sensors are generally an inexpensive device, so it is better not to risk your life and buy a carbon monoxide alarm for your home.
How to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning in the house
By following safety rules, smoke inhalation poisoning can be prevented:
— Do not use fuel-burning appliances without sufficient skills, knowledge and tools.
— Do not burn charcoal in a room with poor ventilation.
— Make sure the stove, exhaust and supply ventilation and chimney are working properly.
— On the smoke ducts of wood-burning stoves, it is necessary to install 2 tight valves in series, and on the ducts of stoves operating on coal or peat, only one valve with a 15 mm hole.
— Do not leave a car in the garage with the engine running.
Sensors that signal an increase in carbon monoxide concentration can additionally protect against poisoning, but they should not replace other preventive work.
Carbon monoxide from stove heating
A fireplace or stove with a closed valve and the remains of unburned fuel is a source of carbon monoxide and an invisible poisoner. Assuming that the fuel has completely burned, stove owners close the chimney damper to preserve heat. Smoldering embers with a lack of air create carbon monoxide, which penetrates into the room through leaky areas of the furnace system.
Also in the chimney, with weak draft and without air supply, chemical underburning of the fuel occurs, and as a result, the appearance and accumulation of carbon monoxide at home.