Carbon Monoxide

Problem: According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website, carbon monoxide (CO) is “a deadly, colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. It is produced by the incomplete burning of various fuels, including natural gas.¹⁰” Products powered by carbon monoxide include ranges, water heaters, and portable space heaters.  As mentioned before, more than 85% of the homes within Fair Park use utility gas which means they use ranges for cooking, hot water provided by the water heaters for bathing, and in some instances, such as mine, portable space heaters to heat the poorly insulated and ventilated homes.  Because so much of their existence depends upon the use of the aforementioned products, they, as well as my aunt experienced “headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, and dizziness.¹¹” I myself, fell victim to fatigue on several occasions due to use of portable space heaters.

Solutions:

1. Require property owners to purchase carbon monoxide detectors.
2. Require semi-annual or annual inspections by natural gas providers to homes built prior to 1978. 

 

^{10, 11} CPSC Home Page | Cpsc.gov. Web. 14 Feb. 2012. <http://www.cpsc.gov/>.