0-9 ppm CO: no health risk; normal CO levels in air. 10-29 ppm CO: problems over long-term exposure; chronic problems such as headaches, nausea.

The safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is 350 parts per million.

The levels of CO2 in the air and potential health problems are: 400 – 1,000 ppm: typical level found in occupied spaces with good air exchange. 1,000 – 2,000 ppm: level associated with complaints of drowsiness and poor air. 2,000 – 5,000 ppm: level associated with headaches, sleepiness, and stagnant, stale, stuffy air.

Average levels in homes without gas stoves vary from 0.5 to 5 parts per million (ppm). Levels near properly adjusted gas stoves are often 5 to 15 ppm and those near poorly adjusted stoves may be 30 ppm or higher.

You may lose balance, vision and memory and, eventually, you may lose consciousness. This can happen within 2 hours if there’s a lot of carbon monoxide in the air. Long-term exposure to low levels of carbon monoxide can also lead to neurological symptoms, such as: difficulty thinking or concentrating.

Consumer-Level Carbon Monoxide Gas Detectors The easiest way to see if there is carbon monoxide inside your home is with a carbon monoxide detector (this tool is different from a carbon monoxide meter). In fact, many building codes require a carbon monoxide gas detector.

As CO levels increase and remain above 70 ppm, symptoms become more noticeable and can include headache, fatigue and nausea. At sustained CO concentrations above 150 to 200 ppm, disorientation, unconsciousness, and death are possible.

Household appliances, such as gas fires, boilers, central heating systems, water heaters, cookers, and open fires which use gas, oil, coal and wood may be possible sources of CO gas. It happens when the fuel does not burn fully. Fumes from certain paint removers and cleaning fluids can cause CO poisoning. …

Carboxyhemoglobin has a half-life of four hours, according to the Iowa State University Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering’s study on the health effects of CO Poisoning. Whatever amount you have in your system, it will take four hours to eliminate half of it.

A carbon monoxide alarm false alarm should not occur if your alarm is in working order. Remember, carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas. If your carbon monoxide alarm went off, it detected potentially harmful amounts of carbon monoxide.

A kitty litter box could set off your alarm.

Reasons for false alarms include faulty detectors, humidity in the air and substances in the air that cause fumes, such as kitty litter. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has alerted the public of several faulty carbon monoxide detectors.

Won’t the carbon monoxide leave the body naturally? The half-life of carboxyhemoglobin in fresh air is approximately 4 hours. To completely flush the carbon monoxide from the body requires several hours, valuable time when additional damage can occur.

The build up of carbon monoxide can also be as a result of any of the following: Indoor use of a barbecue grill or outdoor heater. Using cooking appliances for heating purposes. Paint fumes – Fumes from cleaning fluids and paint removers that contain methylene chloride (dichloromethane) can also cause CO poisoning.