What is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is produced when the normal combustion process is interrupted e.g there is insufficient air or contaminated air.This will cause incomplete combustion, gas and air will not burn completely, this is what causes Carbon Monoxide to be produced.CO is a toxic, tasteless, odorless, colourless and non irritant gas which is harmful to all humans and animals.
How Does it Kill?
When we breath air into our lungs the oxygen combines with haemoglobin and is transported through the body.
When CO is inhaled it disrupts this process dramatically.Haemoglobin is 10 times more attracted to CO than oxygen so it will pick up CO instead of oxygen even when very small levels are present.
As more CO is inhaled less oxygen is absorbed into the bloodstream, this infect suffocated the victim without there knowledge. The onset of CO poisoning affects the victims mental ability and sudden exertion may cause collapse.