Carbon monoxide poisioning what to do now?

[Obelix 11]

My medical opinion, based on M.B, Ch.B. Sheffield 1959, and specialist anaesthetic practice, is that, for a family who got out before they suffered evident symptoms, they are at little risk.

Carbon monoxide converts the haemoglobin of blood to carboxyhaemoglobin, which does not carry oxygen. If the carbon monoxide is no longer breathed, the carboxyhaemoglobin gradually reverts to haemoglobin. Oxygen therapy speeds this.

Have they given up smoking?

 

My understanding was that neurological sequalae can occur up to 40 days post exposure, and if they are still walking around with a headache it sounds like more than a trivial exposure.

[jfish1936 10]

I would like to know the units in which the "32" quoted was measured. 32 parts per million is less than the US mandated 50 ppm for long term exposure.

 

Wikipaedia says:

Chronic exposure to relatively low levels of carbon monoxide may cause persistent headaches, lightheadedness, depression, confusion, memory loss, nausea and vomiting.[32] It is unknown whether low-level chronic exposure may cause permanent neurological damage.[17] Typically, upon removal from exposure to carbon monoxide, symptoms usually resolve themselves, unless there has been an episode of severe acute poisoning.[32] However, one case noted permanent memory loss and learning problems after a 3-year exposure to relatively low levels of carbon monoxide from a faulty furnace.[33

 

So I would expect those who have not suffered an acute high dosage episode to recover slowly in clean air. It may be worth having blood tested for Carboxyhaemoglobin level, but how long have they been out of the house? Also, have they given up smoking and forbidden smoking around their children?

 

---------- Post added 04-10-2013 at 22:21 ----------

 

The acute effects produced by carbon monoxide in relation to ambient concentration in parts per million are listed below:[14][15]

 

Concentration and Symptoms

35 ppm (0.0035%) Headache and dizziness within six to eight hours of constant exposure

100 ppm (0.01%) Slight headache in two to three hours

200 ppm (0.02%) Slight headache within two to three hours; loss of judgment

400 ppm (0.04%) Frontal headache within one to two hours

800 ppm (0.08%) Dizziness, nausea, and convulsions within 45 min; insensible within 2 hours

1,600 ppm (0.16%) Headache, tachycardia, dizziness, and nausea within 20 min; death in less than 2 hours

3,200 ppm (0.32%) Headache, dizziness and nausea in five to ten minutes. Death within 30 minutes.

6,400 ppm (0.64%) Headache and dizziness in one to two minutes. Convulsions, respiratory arrest, and death in less than 20 minutes.

12,800 ppm (1.28%) Unconsciousness after 2–3 breaths. Death in less than three minutes.

( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxide_poisoning )

 

So it is important to know the units of the "32"; presumably it was in expired air. Pity we don't know what level the plumber measured.

Was exposure only for a few weeks? Can we say how many weeks?

Edited October 4, 2013 by jfish1936

[melthebell 863]

Your medical opinion, based on.....?

 

You are also presuming that its the boiler that is the problem. Likely but not conclusive.

 

A friend of mine and her baby killed with this, take no chances. Tenants should absolutely insist on the gas safety certificate and owners should not skimp on a yearly check either.

 

 

.

 

apparently me, my sister and mum were overcome by it when little, and almost died, we were unconscious when my dad came home from work and dragged us out

[TimmyR 10]

My medical opinion, based on M.B, Ch.B. Sheffield 1959, and specialist anaesthetic practice, is that, for a family who got out before they suffered evident symptoms, they are at little risk.

Carbon monoxide converts the haemoglobin of blood to carboxyhaemoglobin, which does not carry oxygen. If the carbon monoxide is no longer breathed, the carboxyhaemoglobin gradually reverts to haemoglobin. Oxygen therapy speeds this.

Have they given up smoking?

 

Jees, take your medical opinion elsewhere. We want half baked opinions based on something someones mother once said. Thats the only safe medical advice to listen to.

[happylady 10]

Does the landlord have gas appliances serviced annually. This is a legal requirement and if he doesn't then there should be some way of getting some compensation if only to deter him from doing the same thing again.

[Supertramp 10]

Does the landlord have gas appliances serviced annually. This is a legal requirement and if he doesn't then there should be some way of getting some compensation if only to deter him from doing the same thing again.

 

She has already confirmed there was a gas safety certificate.

[metalman 21]

Your medical opinion, based on.....?

 

You are also presuming that its the boiler that is the problem. Likely but not conclusive.

 

A friend of mine and her baby killed with this, take no chances. Tenants should absolutely insist on the gas safety certificate and owners should not skimp on a yearly check either.

 

 

.

 

My opinion based on working with CO for the last 30 years and knowing what I'm talking about. That good enough?

 

And the original post did not say they were walking around with a headache, that came later. My reply was if they're walking around and feeling fine then they probably don't need any further treatment and I stand by that. If they're walking around not feeling fine they should see a doctor. Simples.

[tifftifco2 10]

I would like to know the units in which the "32" quoted was measured. 32 parts per million is less than the US mandated 50 ppm for long term exposure.

 

Wikipaedia says:

Chronic exposure to relatively low levels of carbon monoxide may cause persistent headaches, lightheadedness, depression, confusion, memory loss, nausea and vomiting.[32] It is unknown whether low-level chronic exposure may cause permanent neurological damage.[17] Typically, upon removal from exposure to carbon monoxide, symptoms usually resolve themselves, unless there has been an episode of severe acute poisoning.[32] However, one case noted permanent memory loss and learning problems after a 3-year exposure to relatively low levels of carbon monoxide from a faulty furnace.[33

 

So I would expect those who have not suffered an acute high dosage episode to recover slowly in clean air. It may be worth having blood tested for Carboxyhaemoglobin level, but how long have they been out of the house? Also, have they given up smoking and forbidden smoking around their children?

 

---------- Post added 04-10-2013 at 22:21 ----------

 

The acute effects produced by carbon monoxide in relation to ambient concentration in parts per million are listed below:[14][15]

 

Concentration and Symptoms

35 ppm (0.0035%) Headache and dizziness within six to eight hours of constant exposure

100 ppm (0.01%) Slight headache in two to three hours

200 ppm (0.02%) Slight headache within two to three hours; loss of judgment

400 ppm (0.04%) Frontal headache within one to two hours

800 ppm (0.08%) Dizziness, nausea, and convulsions within 45 min; insensible within 2 hours

1,600 ppm (0.16%) Headache, tachycardia, dizziness, and nausea within 20 min; death in less than 2 hours

3,200 ppm (0.32%) Headache, dizziness and nausea in five to ten minutes. Death within 30 minutes.

6,400 ppm (0.64%) Headache and dizziness in one to two minutes. Convulsions, respiratory arrest, and death in less than 20 minutes.

12,800 ppm (1.28%) Unconsciousness after 2–3 breaths. Death in less than three minutes.

( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxide_poisoning )

 

So it is important to know the units of the "32"; presumably it was in expired air. Pity we don't know what level the plumber measured.

Was exposure only for a few weeks? Can we say how many weeks?

 

Only 1 smoker in the household and yes she has stopped and she never smoked in the house anyway!

 

Although im not disputing the figures, wilkipedia is a most unreliable source to cite information from as it can be edited from anyone, hense why we cant use it in research at university.

 

The problem is solved now.

[aliceBB 10]

It is a criminal offense for the landlord to rent a property without a SP12 gas safe landlords certificate.

 

Contact gas safe for advice.

 

http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk

 

It's a CP12, not SP12.

[jfish1936 10]

Although im not disputing the figures, wilkipedia is a most unreliable source to cite information from as it can be edited from anyone, hense why we cant use it in research at university.

.

 

Sorry, I should have attributed the figures to:

14. Goldstein M (December 2008). "Carbon monoxide poisoning". Journal of Emergency Nursing: JEN: Official Publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association 34 (6): 538–542. doi:10.1016/j.jen.2007.11.014. PMID 19022078.

15. Struttmann T, Scheerer A, Prince TS, Goldstein LA (Nov 1998). "Unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning from an unlikely source". The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice 11 (6): 481–484. PMID 9876005.

 

These references should satisfy your university authorities, as they are both peer-reviewed journals.

However, it costs $14 to access the original article; 15 years ago, I could, as a staff member of a teaching hospital, read it free of charge.

Wikipaedia allows anyone access to its information for free; you do need a good bull**** filter to exclude bad information, and you must be willing to check the references as far as possible.

I use Wikipaedia to get an overview of a new subject, its references as far as I can to check, and quote the authorities I have discovered. Finally, my article is in my own words.