Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Causes of Carbon monoxide poisoning

Gas, oil, coal and wood are used in many household appliances, including boilers, gas fires, central heating systems, water heaters and open fires. CO gas is produced if the fuel in these appliances doesn’t burn fully. Burning charcoal, running cars, and smoking cigarettes also produce CO gas.

If they are well maintained and used safely, household appliances should produce very little CO. Damaged appliances, or those that aren’t serviced regularly, may produce higher levels of the gas than normal and become dangerous. Blocked flues and chimneys stop the gas escaping – this allows it to build up in a room where it could be breathed in.

Burning fuel in an enclosed or unventilated space (with no air vents, or windows or doors left open or ajar) is most likely to cause CO poisoning. Examples include a car engine running inside a garage or a faulty heating boiler in a kitchen. If a car engine is left running in a closed garage, a lethal level of CO can build up in just 10 minutes.

Breathing in fumes from cleaning fluids and paint removers that contain methylene chloride (dichloromethane) can also cause CO poisoning. Methylene chloride is converted into carbon monoxide when we breathe it in.

• Caesarean sectionCancerCancer of the bile ductCancer of the bladderCancer of the boneCancer of the brainCancer of the breastCancer of the breast, maleCancer of the cervixCancer of the colon, rectum or bowelCancer of the kidneyCancer of the larynxCancer of the liverCancer of the lungCancer of the mouthCancer of the oesophagusCancer of the ovaryCancer of the pancreasCancer of the prostateCancer of the skinCancer of the stomachCancer of the testicleCancer of the thyroidCancer of the uterusCancer of the vaginaCancer of the vulvaCarbon monoxide poisoningCarersCarpal tunnel syndromeCartilage damageCataract surgeryCataractsCatarrhCavernous sinus thrombosisCEA testCellulitisCerebral palsyCerebrovascular diseaseCervical screening testCervical spondylosisCharcot-Marie-Tooth diseaseChemotherapyChest infectionChickenpoxChildren in careChiropracticChlamydiaChloride testCholesterolChorionic Villus samplingChronic fatigue syndromeChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseCircumcisionCirrhosisCleft lip and palateClinical trialsClub footCoeliac diseaseCognitive behavioural therapyCold soreCold, commonColicColostomyColour vision deficiencyColposcopyCombined contraceptive pillComplaints about NHS servicesComplementary therapiesComplex Regional Pain SyndromeCondoms (male and female)Congenital heart diseaseCongestive heart failureConjunctivitisConsent to treatmentConstipationContraceptionContraceptive implants and injectionsContraceptive patchCoronary angioplastyCoronary artery bypassCoronary heart diseaseCorticosteroid (drugs)Corticosteroid preparations (topical)Cosmetic surgeryCoughCounsellingCradle capCraniosynostosisCreutzfeldt-Jakob diseaseCrohn's diseaseCroupCT scanCushing's syndromeCuts and grazesCystic fibrosisCystitisCystoscopyCytomegalovirus

  ---