By Malak Elhag
Carbon is a nonmetallic chemical element that is found in group 14 of the periodic table. When it reacts with oxygen, it produces chemical molecules including carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO). Carbon dioxide (CO2) is typically produced after full combustion, when carbon and hydrogen interact with oxygen gas (O2) to make CO2 and water (H2O). Carbon monoxide, on the other hand, is typically created through incomplete combustion, in which some of the carbon is not fully oxidized (does not react with oxygen), producing soot or carbon monoxide (a health hazard). Incomplete combustion can occur for a variety of reasons, including insufficient mixing of oxygen and fuel, lack of oxygen supply to the flame, insufficient time to burn, and/or cooling of the flame temperature before combustion is complete.
What happens if you are exposed to carbon monoxide?
The consequences of coming into contact with carbon monoxide can range from regular headaches to death, depending on the amount of exposure and the time sequence. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that poses a significant risk to human health. And it’s symptoms are often described as flu-like. According to JAMA Neurology, Carbon monoxide neurotoxicity begins with headache and fatigue (HbCO values of 0.1-0.2), and progresses to dizziness and syncope (HbCO levels of 0.2-0.3). Further increases in HbCO levels in the blood are linked to lethargy, coma, seizures, and death. Depending on the concentration of carbon monoxide, a patient may experience some of the symptoms listed above in as little as five minutes. Therefore, if there is even a remote possibility of carbon monoxide present, it is strongly advised to contact emergency services.
Carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) is a stable combination of carbon monoxide and hemoglobin (Hb) that forms in red blood cells in response to carbon monoxide exposure.
What are some possible treatments if you are exposed to carbon monoxide?
When carbon monoxide enters the human body, it replaces the oxygen in the red blood cells, making it extremely hazardous and potentially fatal. As a result, the first step should always be to stay away from the source of carbon monoxide and isolate the patient from that environment. (Get some fresh air while seeking help from professionals.) One possible treatment is to breathe in pure oxygen, which can be accomplished by wearing an oxygen mask or getting any kind of high-flow oxygen therapy, such as a non-rebreather mask or staying in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. This will increase the amount of oxygen in the body while decreasing the amount of carbon monoxide. This method could take up to 24 hours to remove the majority of the carbon monoxide present.
In Canada, there are more than 300 carbon monoxide-related deaths and more than 200 hospitalizations each year. While in the United States, at least 420 people die as a result of unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning. And over 100,000 people visit the emergency room due to unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning every year. As a result, strive to be aware of the presence of carbon monoxide in your surroundings at all times. The best approach to determine whether carbon monoxide is present in a specific environment is to purchase carbon monoxide detectors, which simulate smoke detectors and can be simply installed anywhere, keeping everyone safe.
References
Brouhard, R. (2022, August 19). How Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Is Treated. Verywell Health. Retrieved August 18, 2023, from https://www.verywellhealth.com/carbon-monoxide-poisoning-treatment-4161055
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning Causes & Prevention. (2022, March 26). Wayne Alarm Systems. Retrieved August 18, 2023, from https://waynealarm.com/causes-of-carbon-monoxide-poisoning/
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning Prevention | NCEH. (n.d.). CDC. Retrieved August 18, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/copoisoning/index.html
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Symptoms. (2023, July 20). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved August 18, 2023, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15663-carbon-monoxide-poisoning
Greiner, T. H. (n.d.). Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Checking for Complete Combustion (AEN-175) - Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. Retrieved August 18, 2023, from https://www.abe.iastate.edu/extension-and-outreach/carbon-monoxide-poisoning-checking-for-complete-combustion-aen-175/
Hospitalizations and Deaths in Canada Irwin Cohen, Len Garis, Fahra Rajabali, Ian Pike - Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. (n.d.). Centre for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Research. Retrieved August 18, 2023, from https://cjr.ufv.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Carbon-Monoxide-2017-Final-.pdf
Questions & Answers. (n.d.). Questions & Answers. Retrieved August 18, 2023, from https://mytutorsource.com/questions-answers/chemistry/297/what-is-the-difference-between-complete-and-incomplete-combustion-of-a-hydrocarbon/
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