Comfrey, Minnesota

... Winter hazard awareness week... day four... indoor air issues

Carbon monoxide facts...

- Carbon monoxide is a colorless... odorless... tasteless gas. It
   results from the incomplete burning of natural gas... oil...
   wood... kerosene... charcoal and other fuels... under conditions
   where there is not enough oxygen present.
- Exposure to low levels of Carbon monoxide can cause flu-like
   symptoms... such as headaches... nausea... dizziness... drowsiness...
   weakness and shortness of breath. Higher levels can result in
   unconsciousness or death.
- Carbon monoxide is most likely to accumulate inside homes during
   winter... when the heating system is in use and the home has been
   sealed and insulated against the cold.
- Carbon monoxide can accumulate from...
       wood stoves... fireplaces or charcoal grills
       furnaces... water heaters... boilers
       gas cooking stoves and clothes dryers
       gas or kerosene space heaters
       automobile exhaust

Carbon monoxide safety...

- make sure your heating system and all fuel burning appliances
   are adequately vented and maintained.
- Make sure your furnace has an adequate air supply.
- Do not use gas stoves... ovens... or portable propane camping
   equipment to heat living areas.
- Have a qualified technician install and check furnaces and
   all fuel-burning appliances.
- Install a ul-listed Carbon monoxide detector... one which
   sounds an alarm. This is in addition to a working smoke
   detector.

Other indoor air hazards and safety information...

- mold exposure can be a special problem during winter... when
   homes are sealed up. Mold spores can contribute to asthma...
   allergies and other health problems.
- Molds need an ample supply of moisture. Your home may be at
   risk if you had flooding... a leaky roof... ice dams... a damp
   basement... a backed up sewer... or chronic plumbing leaks.
- Radon can sometimes enter homes from the surrounding soil
   and accumulate in living areas... especially during winter.
   The Minnesota department of health recommends that all
   homes be tested... as long term exposure to radon can contribute
   to many long term health problems... including lung cancer. When
   testing... use equipment that can take average readings over a
   long period of time.
- If asbestos-containing material is disturbed by remodeling...
   something often done during winter... tiny fibers can be released
   to the surrounding air. Some products contained asbestos up to
   the mid 1980s. Repair or encapsulate the damaged material using
   hardware supplies. If you hire a contractor to do the work...
   that contractor must be licensed by the Minnesota department of
   health.

For further information contact...

- Minnesota department of health
       indoor air program... ... ... 651-201-4601 or 800-798-9050