Local activists warn of carbon monoxide threat

The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning goes down as the temperature goes up, but Bloomington activists are making sure citizens remain aware of the risks.\nThis poisonous gas is emitted by furnaces, cars, appliances and closed fireplaces. It is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. This growing problem is the culprit of hundreds of deaths each year all across the country. \n"Carbon monoxide bonds to red blood cells and prevents the red blood cells from carrying oxygen to the body," said Joel Bomgardner, assistant fire chief for the Bloomington Township Fire Department. "This is a cumulative problem."\nSymptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to other common illnesses. They include headache, nausea, fatigue, and dizziness. This makes it difficult to be certain of carbon monoxide contamination. Carbon monoxide causes damage by blocking oxygen to the body. This makes the heart pump faster and can cause lasting damage or death\nAdam Schau, an IU junior and co-chair of the American Heating Committee to Save Lives, said there are minor and major effects of carbon monoxide poisoning. The minor effects would be the dizziness and nausea. \n"When you get sick, you need to be treated in the hospital," said Schau. \nMajor effects include brain damage, heart attack and death. Low levels of carbon monoxide poisoning over time can accumulate and cause these serious problems. \nIU history professor Larry Friedman said the problem lies in faulty home heating fixtures.\n"The underlying problem is (that) the combustion chambers in the furnaces crack."\nIn newer furnaces it is more difficult to detect a cracked chamber, Friedman said. \nTwo precautions that can be taken to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning are to install a carbon monoxide detector and to get the furnace checked every year. \nA carbon monoxide detector sets off an alarm once it detects carbon monoxide in the air. \nThe detectors measure how much carbon monoxide is in the air. The alarm would give adequate warning to open windows and get out of the house. The detectors usually go off when there are nine or 10 parts per million in the area. The measurement ppm reflects the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air. \nThe other option to prevent contamination is to get the furnace checked yearly. Friedman said a long-term solution would be to get your furnace taken apart and checked once a year by someone who is licensed.\n"Sixty percent (of furnaces) will crack every year," said Friedman. "Everybody should have their furnace disassembled. There is no way to look into the combustion chamber unless you take it out and look."\nThe Bloomington Township Fire Department gets several calls a year concerning carbon monoxide leaks. \n"We have a specific protocol we follow," said Bomgardner.\nThey use a gas detector to get a readout of how much carbon monoxide is in the area in parts per million. \nWhen the carbon monoxide level reaches 10 ppm, the house is ventilated, said Bomgardner. \nOnce the fire department arrives to the scene, they try to detect the cause of the problem.\nAlthough this is becoming a more frequent issue, it's relatively easy to fix. "It's scary, but it's so easy to solve," Friedman said. \nFor more information about carbon monoxide and its effects, visit www.coheadquarters.com or www.carbonmonoxidekills.com.\n-- Contact staff writer Andrea Opperman at acopperm@indiana.edu.