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Consumer Information FAQs
Standard for Action Levels The following action level have been defined as minimums for BPI certified Carbon Monoxide Analyst. Analyst may work for a government agency or business entity that has adopted more stringent standards than the ones defined in this document. As such, CO Analysts may enforce those higher standards or ignore conditions in excess of the defined action levels. The action levels are considered net indoor reading -i.e.- indoor ambient minus outdoor ambient readings. 0 to 9 parts per million (ppm) Normal - No Action: Typical from: outdoor sources, fumes from attached garages, heavy smoking, fireplace spillage and operation of unvented combustion appliances. With ambient conditions in this range, analysts may continue testing sequences. 10 to 35 parts per million (ppm) Marginal: This level could be prolematic in some situations. Actions: Occupants should be advised of a potential health hazard to small children, elderly people and persons suffering from respirator or heart problems. If the home has an attached garage, document CO levels in garage. Accept this level as normal for unvented appliances but not for vented appliance. If unvented appliances are in operation, recommend additional ventilation in the areas of operation. With ambient condition in this range, analyst may continue testing to locate the CO source. 36 to 99 parts per million (ppm) Excessive: Medical Alert. Conditions must be mitigated. Actions: Ask occupants to step outside and query about health symptoms. Advise occupants to seek medical attention. If occupants exhibit any symptoms of CO poisoning, have someone drive them to a medical facility. Enter the building, open doors and windows to ventilate the structure. Turn off all combustion appliances until the CO level has been reduced to safe levels. If forced air equipment is available, continuous operation of the air handler is recommended at this time. If the home has an attached garage, document CO levels in garage. Test combustion appliances one at a time to determine the source of CO production. If an appliance is determined to be the source of CO production, it should be shut off and not used until a qualified technician with proper test equipment can service it. That should be done quickly. If the home has an attached garage, document CO levels in garage. Disable combustion appliance operation. Continually monitor indoor ambient levels while moving through the building. Once the atmosphere within the structure has returned to safe levels and the appliances have been turned back on, locate the source of CO production for corrective measures. 100 to 200 parts per millions (ppm) Dangerous: Medical Alert. Emergency conditions exist. Actions: Evacuate the building immediately and check occupants for health symptoms. Advise all occupants to seek medical attention. Occupants should have someone else drive them to a medical facility. If occupants exhibit symptoms of CO poisoning, emergency service personnel must be called. Evacuation is important, but Analysts must not subject themselves to excessive conditions. Maximum exposure time is 15 minutes. Open all doors and windows that can be done quickly. If the home has an attached garage, document CO levels in garage. Disable combustion appliance operation. Continually monitor indoor ambient levels while moving through the building. Once the atmosphere within the structure has returned to safe levels and the appliances have been turned back on, locate the source of CO production for corrective measures. Greater than 200 parts per million (ppm) Dangerous: Medical Alert. Emergency conditions exist. Actions: Evacuate the building immediately and check occupants for health symptoms. Advise all occupants to seek medical attention. Occupants should have someone else drive them to medical facility. If occupants exhibit symptoms of CO poisoning, emergency service personnel must be called. Evacuation is important, but analysts must not subject themselves to these conditions. Do not stay inside or re-enter the building until conditions have dropped below 100 ppm. Open all doors and windows that can be done quickly without entering the structure. Call the local utility to shut off gas supply (if applicable and necessary). If the home has an attached garage, document CO levels in garage if possible to do so without being subjected to high levels of CO. Once the atmosphere within the structure has returned to safe levels, restore fuel supply to appliances. Operate and test the appliances one at a time to determine the source of CO production. The Mold Scare - Medical Facts Versus Dubious Myths "There are many different kinds of mold - at least 10,000 common types. What do the following things have in common: Wine, penicillin, cheese, beer and mushrooms?Can't guess? Here's a big hint: It's also the latest dubious health scare, costing Texas consumers millions of dollars in higher insurance premiums and needless home "health" testing, and it's being used as a get-rich-quick scheme for some personal injury lawyers. Ah, now you know - it's called mold. So how did this very common type of fungus, present in all sorts of good things we use on a daily basis and ever-present in our environment, grow into the major consumer crises that it has become today? The answer may surprise you. As a board certified allergist-immunologist, I have taught, done research and seen patients with a variety of immune-based medical conditions for the past 14 years. In the last several years, my clinical office has become increasingly populated by very frightened, sometimes angry individuals. They believe, or have been told, that they have "toxic mold disease." But do they really? Let's examine some facts about mold. There are many different kinds - at least 10,000 common types. Mold is everywhere, because it simply requires a source of water, sugar and oxygen along with a friendly surface to thrive and grow. In places where lots of water is actually in the air itself (i.e. high-humidity environments like Texas), mold easily finds comfortable growth sites and is especially prosperous. Molds are not new -they have always been around us and always will be. It is not possible to "get rid of mold," nor would we even want to. Is mold harmful to people? Can molds cause memory loss, fatigue, or brain damage? For most people, the answer is a resounding, and hopefully reassuring, "No!" The world is filled with mold spores -- we breath it in our air, we eat it in our foods, and we drink it in our water every day with no ill effects. Some people do develop allergies and experience symptoms of asthma or hay fever when exposed to certain mold spores. There are also a few mold-related diseases that can be serious, but these are extremely rare. But what about the experts who claim to diagnose all sorts of mold related illnesses such as memory loss or learning disabilities? There is absolutely no proof to support these claims. And what about the dreaded toxic mold? The term itself seems to have been manufactured to arouse panic and fear among otherwise normal people. Some molds do produce "mycotoxins," but these are mostly of concern in the agriculture and food industries. Still, even though health risks may be vastly exaggerated, most people would rather not have excess, visible mold in their homes. If there is a lot of mold, it looks bad and has an unpleasant odor. Mold removal, however, is relatively simple to accomplish. If you have mold, you have excess moisture and this source needs to be eliminated, whether it is a roof leak, a shower leak, condensation, or from some other source. Often, the mold can simply be cleaned off, and will not return if the moisture is removed. Should you pay for a "mold test?" No. The nation's most reputable experts, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the reigning mold expert from Harvard's School of Public Health, do not support most home mold testing. Remember, in a place with high humidity like the entire Gulf Coast, you will find at least some mold in virtually 100 percent of homes more than a couple of years old. If you see or smell mold in your home, clean it up and stop the source of water. It's that simple. Should you find someone to blame? The mere presence of mold in a home or office does not automatically mean that someone has done something wrong. Unfortunately, our society today seems to be about everyone suing everyone else for things that used to be considered part of life. Should you panic? To me, this is the most important issue of all. You need to react to mold based on the facts, not on the hysteria and hype you may have recently heard or read. The mold scare is already having a demonstrable and troubling effect on the Texas economy and on individual lives. Texas insurance rates are already more than double the national average and are continuing to rise based in large part on mold-related claims. Many people can no longer afford homeowners insurance, assuming they can even get coverage in the first place. Home sales are not going through because of mold concerns. At the same time, home sellers, lenders, Realtors, title companies and a host of other industries are being damaged, which will begin to show up as real job losses for real Texans. Moreover, individuals and families are being moved out of their homes by testers and remediators and having their lives disrupted mostly for no legitimate reason whatsoever. If you think the major concern is really about your health, ask yourself this question: Do the apartments and hotels into which these people are being relocated have higher or lower mold content than the homes from which they have been removed for weeks or months while expensive renovations are completed? Or how about the outside air that we are exposed to every day -- are the same molds inside the home found in the air outside? The bottom line is this: If you are ill, see a physician. If he or she thinks you may have mold allergies, ask to be tested by a reputable specialist who has the credentials to provide calm, reliable medical information then follow your doctor's direction for treatment. Check the physician's credentials to determine their expertise claim in the diagnosis and management of mold-related allergic diseases. Don't be afraid to discuss with your doctor why he or she thinks mold is causing your problems. If you see or smell mold in your home, simply clean it up and plug the water leak. If you need an expert to help, find a reputable person or company trained in moisture issue management to find and fix the water source. And, perhaps most importantly of all, if someone comes to you to try and assess blame for the mold "exposure," ask yourself whether you want the aggravation, expense and frustration associated with trying to get compensated for the everyday risks associated with living on our planet. Is the stress, anxiety and guilty conscience really worth it? You be the judge. Frequently Asked Questions About Carbon Monoxide Detectors What is carbon monoxide (CO) and why do I need a carbon monoxide detector? Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and toxic gas produced as a by-product of combustion. Any fuel burning appliance, vehicle, tool or other device has the potential to produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide gas. Examples of carbon monoxide producing devices commonly in use around the home include: Fuel fired furnaces (non-electric) The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that approximately 200 people per year are killed by accidental CO poisoning with an additional 5000 people injured. These deaths and injuries are typically caused by improperly used or malfunctioning equipment aggravated by improvements in building construction which limit the amount of fresh air flowing in to homes and other structures. While regular maintenance and inspection of gas burning equipment in the home can minimize the potential for exposure to CO gas, the possibility for some type of sudden failure resulting in a potentially life threatening build up of gas always exists. What are the medical effects of carbon monoxide and how do I recognize them? Carbon monoxide inhibits the blood's ability to carry oxygen to body tissues including vital organs such as the heart and brain. When CO is inhaled, it combines with the oxygen carrying hemoglobin of the blood to form carboxyhemoglobin. Once combined with the hemoglobin, that hemoglobin is no longer available for transporting oxygen. How quickly the carboxyhemoglobin builds up is a factor of the concentration of the gas being inhaled (measured in parts per million or PPM) and the duration of the exposure. Compounding the effects of the exposure is the long half-life of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood. Half-life is a measure of how quickly levels return to normal. The half-life of carboxyhemoglobin is approximately 5 hours. This means that for a given exposure level, it will take about 5 hours for the level of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood to drop to half its current level after the exposure is terminated. Since one can't easily measure COHb levels outside of a medical environment, CO toxicity levels are usually expressed in airborne concentration levels (PPM) and duration of exposure. Expressed in this way, symptoms of exposure can be stated as follows:
As can be seen from the above information, the symptoms vary widely based on exposure level, duration and the general health and age on an individual. Also note the one recurrent theme that is most significant in the recognition of carbon monoxide poisoning- headache, dizziness and nausea. These 'flu like' symptoms are often mistaken for a real case of the flu and can result in delayed or misdiagnosed treatment. When experienced in conjunction with a the sounding of a carbon monoxide these symptoms are the best indicator that a potentially serious buildup of carbon monoxide exists. This comment will be returned to later. What are the different types of carbon monoxide detectors and how do they work? There are a number of different types and brands of carbon monoxide detectors on the market today; They can be most easily characterized by whether they operate on household current or batteries. Underlying this, in most cases, is the type of sensor employed in the detectors operation. Detectors using household current typically employ some type of solid-state sensor which purges itself and resamples for CO on a periodic basis. This cycling of the sensor is the source of its increased power demands. Detectors powered by batteries typically use a passive sensor technology which reacts to the prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide gas. Are some types of detectors better than others? How do I select the best detector for me? Regardless of the type of sensor used all detectors sold on the market today should conform to minimum sensitivity and alarm characteristics. These characteristics have been defined and are verified by Underwriters Laboratory in their standard for carbon monoxide detectors UL 2034. This standard was most recently revised in June of 1995 and went into effect in October of 1995. This revision specified additional requirements regarding identification of detector type, low-level (nuisance) alarm sensitivity and alarm silencing. Under no circumstances should one purchase a detector that is not UL listed. How many carbon monoxide detectors should I have and where should I place them? The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends a detector on each floor of a residence. At a minimum, a single detector should be placed on each sleeping floor with an additional detector in the area of any major gas burning appliances such as a furnace or water heater. Installation in these areas ensures rapid detection of any potentially malfunctioning appliances and the ability to hear the alarm from all sleeping areas. In general, carbon monoxide detectors should be placed high (near the ceiling) for most effective use. Detectors should also not be placed within five feet of gas fueled appliances or near cooking or bathing areas. Consult the manufacturers installation instructions for proper placement of a detector within a given area. What are the most common causes of carbon monoxide detector alarms? There are many conditions which can cause a carbon monoxide detector to alarm. Most are preventable and few are actually life threatening. Ideally through proper placement of the detector and education of the users the number of preventable calls can be minimized and activation will only occur in the more serious situations. What should I do when my carbon monoxide detector goes off? First and foremost, stay calm. As mentioned previously most situations resulting in activation of a carbon monoxide detector are not life threatening and do not require calling 911. To determine the need to call 911, ask the following question of everyone in the household: "Does anyone feel ill? Is anyone experiencing
the 'flu-like' symptoms of headache, nausea or dizziness?"
If the answer to the above by everyone in the household is no, the likelihood of a serious exposure is greatly diminished and one probably does not need to call 911. Instead, turn off any gas burning appliances or equipment, ventilate the area and attempt to reset the alarm. If the alarm will not reset or resounds, call a qualified heating and ventilating service contractor to inspect your system for possible problems. If at any time during this process someone begins to feel ill with the symptoms described above evacuate the household to a safe location and have someone call 911. What can I expect to happen if I call 911? What to expect when calling 911 is based on the polices and procedures of the public safety agencies serving your community and will vary from area to area. Most public safety agencies are, however, recognizing the dangers posed by carbon monoxide gas and are adopting similar procedures to the ones described below. These procedures are based on information developed by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and other national and regional associations. The objective of these procedures is to quickly determine the severity of the situation and provide the proper emergency response. The following is a summary of what one can expect to happen if the call 911 because a carbon monoxide detector is sounding: When initially calling 911 be prepared to provide the following information:
If anyone is feeling ill and/or you can not or have not been able to evacuate everyone, law enforcement, medical and fire personnel will be assigned to the call on an emergency basis. Law enforcement to assist with the immediate evacuation of individuals, medical to treat any victims and fire to monitor for CO gas and assist with the other activities. If no one is feeling ill, you may be advised to contact your local heating contractor or gas company to assist you or, more likely, fire personnel will be dispatched on a routine basis to monitor for CO gas and advise if a 'real' carbon monoxide problem exists. |
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