CO - How Carbon Monoxide Affects
the Way We Live and Breathe
Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a colorless, odorless gas that
is formed when carbon in fuel is not burned completely. It is a component
of motor vehicle exhaust, which contributes about 56 percent of all CO
emissions nationwide. Other non-road engines and vehicles (such as
construction equipment and boats) contribute about 22 percent of all CO
emissions nationwide. Higher levels of CO generally occur in areas with
heavy traffic congestion. In cities, 85 to 95 percent of all CO emissions
may come from motor vehicle exhaust. Other sources of CO emissions
include industrial processes (such as metals processing and chemical
manufacturing), residential wood burning, and natural sources such as
forest fires. Woo dstoves, gas stoves, cigarette smoke, and unvented gas
and kerosene space heaters are sources of CO indoors. The highest levels
of CO in the outside air typically occur during the colder months of the
year when inversion conditions are more frequent. The air pollution
becomes trapped near the ground beneath a layer of warm air.
courtesy of EPA - Environmental Protection Agency
![More than 3/4 of CO emissions come from motor vehicles [courtesy of EPA - Environmental Protection Agency]](images/traffic.jpg)
CO. . .
- is poisonous even to healthy people at high levels in the air.
- can affect people with heart disease.
- can affect the central nervous system.
Motor Vehicle Use Is Increasing
Nationwide, three-quarters of carbon monoxide emissions come from on-road
motor vehicles (cars and trucks) and non-road engines (such as boats and
construction equipment). Control measures have reduced pollutant
emissions per vehicle over the past 20 years, but the number of cars and
trucks on the road and the miles they are driven have doubled in the past
20 years. Vehicles are now driven two trillion miles each year in the
United States. With more and more cars traveling more and more miles,
growth in vehicle travel may eventually offset progress in vehicle
emissions controls.
Malfunctions and Tampering Reduce
the Effectiveness of Emission Control Systems
Today's sophisticated emission control systems on vehicles are designed to
keep pollution to a minimum, but vehicles quickly become polluters when
their emission controls do not work correctly or if drivers tamper with
them.
Carbon monoxide can cause harmful health effects by
reducing oxygen delivery to the body's organs (like the heart and
brain) and tissues.
Courtesy of EPA - Environmental
Protection Agency |
Cardiovascular Effects. The health threat from lower levels
of carbon monoxide is most serious for those who suffer from heart disease,
like angina, clogged arteries, or congestive heart failure. For a
person with heart disease, a single exposure to CO at low levels
may cause chest pain and reduce that person's ability to exercise;
repeated exposures may contribute to other cardiovascular effects.
|
Courtesy of EPA - Environmental Protection Agency |
Central
Nervous System Effects. Even healthy people can be affected
by high levels of CO. People who breathe high levels of CO can
develop vision problems, reduced ability to work or learn, reduced
manual dexterity, and difficulty performing complex tasks. At
extremely high levels, CO is poisonous and can cause death. |
Courtesy of EPA -
Environmental Protection Agency |
Smog.
CO contributes to the formation of smog
ground-level ozone,
which can trigger serious respiratory problems. |
|
Reference:
http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/co/hlth1.html |
|
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![car emissions test [courtesy of EPA - Environmental Protection Agency]](images/et-022.jpg)
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