Dangers on Carbon monoxide

There are many dangers associated with carbon monoxide, some that short term problems and some that can be permanently damaging or even fatal. Carbon monoxide poisoning can come about through a number of sources and these can be everyday items and appliances within the home or at work.

Once carbon monoxide has been breathed in, it replaces the oxygen in the blood, thus killing off cells and starving vital organs of oxygen. One of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning is death. A large enough dose of this odourless, colourless and tasteless gas can kill within minutes. People die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning without ever knowing what hit them. They simply slip in to unconsciousness and never come around, or they may already be asleep when they breathe in the carbon monoxide and simply never wake up again.

Smaller doses of carbon monoxide poisoning can cause a range of symptoms and problems and depending on how often the CO2 is breathed in and at what levels can cause both short term and long term damage. One of the dangers associated with the short term symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning is the non-specific nature of the symptoms which can often resemble flu.

This means that the victim can often go on breathing in carbon monoxide which can then lead to long term, permanent damage or death. Carbon monoxide can result in brain damage, heart problems, major organ dysfunction, memory or cognitive problems, behavioural and personality changes and a range of other permanent problems.