Combustion
Pollution
Health Problems
(Stoves, Space Heaters, Furnaces, Fireplaces)
From "Indoor Air Pollution."
Co-sponsored by:
The American Lung Association
(ALA),
The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA),
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and
The American Medical Association (AMA)
Key Signs/Symptoms
- dizziness or headache
- confusion
- nausea/emesis
- fatigue
- tachycardia
- eye and upper respiratory tract irritation
- wheezing/bronchial constriction
- persistent cough
- elevated blood carboxyhemoglobin levels
- increased frequency of angina in persons with coronary heart disease
Diagnostic Leads
- What types of combustion equipment are present, including gas
furnaces or water heaters, stoves, unvented gas or kerosene space
heaters, clothes dryers, fireplaces? Are vented appliances properly
vented to the outside?
- Are household members exhibiting influenza-like symptoms during the
heating season? Are they complaining of nausea, watery eyes, coughing,
headaches?
- Is a gas oven or range used as a home heating source?
- Is the individual aware of odor when a heat source is in use?
- Is heating equipment in disrepair or misused? When was it last
professionally inspected?
- Does structure have an attached or underground garage where motor
vehicles may idle?
- Is charcoal being burned indoors in a hibachi, grill, or fireplace?
Remedial Action
Periodic professional inspection and maintenance of
installed equipment such as furnaces, water heaters, and clothes dryers
are recommended. Such equipment should be vented directly to the outdoors.
Fireplace and wood or coal stove flues should be regularly cleaned and
inspected before each heating season. Kitchen exhaust fans should be
exhausted to outside. Vented appliances should be used whenever possible.
Charcoal should never be burned inside. Individuals potentially exposed to
combustion sources should consider installing carbon monoxide detectors
that meet the requirements of Underwriters Laboratory (UL) Standard 2034.
No detector is 100% reliable, and some individuals may experience health
problems at levels of carbon monoxide below the detection sensitivity of
these devices.
For more
information on air pollution and Environmental Health Problems please
visit Air Pollution
and Health
Problems or visit either of the following links:
Pollution Health Problems • Environmental Health Problems • ETS Harmful Effects • Tuberculosis • Combustion Pollution • Air Pollution Sources • Chemical Sensitivity • Humidifier Fever • Radon • Asbestos • Air-Pollution-Stunts-Lung-Development
|