Environmental Health Center



EnvironMinute Health Scripts

Killer Carbon Monoxide
May 15, 1996

Many American households are prey to a poisonous intruder, and because its symptoms mimic common ailments, like the flu, it often goes undetected. But a simple alarm can save lives, as we'll learn on today's EnvironMinute.[:12]

Colorless, odorless, and highly poisonous, carbon monoxide kills an estimated 200 to 300 people each year. Even small concentrations of this gas can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, seizure, blurred vision, and hearing loss. Carbon monoxide can leak from gas stoves and clothes dryers, fireplaces and woodstoves, unvented kerosene space heaters, water heaters, wood, coal or gas furnaces, as well as cars and even cigarettes. Any home with one or more of these sources should have carbon monoxide detectors. Placed near bedrooms on each floor, working detectors may help make sure that sweet dreams don't turn into nightmares.[:36]

The EnvironMinute is produced in cooperation with the National Safety Council and made possible by the Teresa and H. John Heinz III Foundation. [:10]

Finger Lakes Productions, Inc.




Return to EnvironMinutes | EHC Top Page | EHC Directory | NSC Home | Comments

Environmental Health Center
A Division of the National Safety Council
1025 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20036
(202) 293-2270 (tel); (202) 293-0032 (fax)

September 17, 1998 | Disclaimer/Policy