Health Effects of Low CO Exposure

Research on Health Effects of Chronic Low Level CO Exposures

Underwriters Laboratories defines low carbon monoxide exposure as CO levels under 30 ppm.

The American Lung Association (ALA) warns that "breathing CO at low levels regularly may cause permanent mental or physical problems. At very high levels, it causes loss of consciousness and death."

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Healthy Homes study reports that "both short-term exposures to high concentrations of CO and repeated longer-term exposures to lower concentrations of CO can result in serious health effects. Some research shows that repeated exposures to CO, even at levels previously believed to be low, are capable of producing numerous and persistent, adverse physical, cognitive, and emotional health effects in humans."

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) further cautions that "exposure to low levels of CO can cause long-term health damage, even after the CO source is removed. These health effects include long-term neurological damage such as learning and memory impairments, emotional and personality effects, and sensory and motor disorders."

Standard CO alarms are not designed for low-level CO monitoring, and there have been questions about whether CO alarm standards are protective enough, especially for sensitive groups such as older adults, unborn children, infants, and persons with medical conditions.

To provide a safe and healthy home, and help protect against chronic low CO poisoning, install a hybrid carbon monoxide alarm that, with one touch of a button, enables the client to display the current CO level detected as low as 10 ppm, the highest level detected, and for how long the peak CO level was detected for.