Combustion Air Pollutions

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Combustion Air Pollution and Health Problems

From: Health Problems Caused By Other Combustion Products
(Stoves, Space Heaters, Furnaces, Fireplaces)
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)
U.S. Gov't Printing Office Publication No. 1994-523-217/81322 1994

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.

Comment

Aside from environmental tobacco smoke, the major combustion pollutants that may be present at harmful levels in the home or workplace stem chiefly from malfunctioning heating devices, or inappropriate, inefficient use of such devices. Incidents are largely seasonal. Another source may be motor vehicle emissions due, for example, to proximity to a garage (or a loading dock located near air intake vents).

A variety of particulates, acting as additional irritants or, in some cases, carcinogens, may also be released in the course of combustion. Although faulty venting in office buildings and other nonresidential structures has resulted in combustion product problems, most cases involve the home or non-work-related consumer activity. Among possible sources of contaminants: gas ranges that are malfunctioning or used as heat sources; improperly flued or vented fireplaces, furnaces, wood or coal stoves, gas water heaters and gas clothes dryers; and unvented or otherwise improperly used kerosene or gas space heaters.

The gaseous pollutants from combustion sources include some identified as prominent atmospheric pollutants -- carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂).