|
|
|
Environmental Public Health Division
Printer-friendly version of this document
  Combustion - (co) carbon monoxide; (no²) nitrogen dioxide; (so²) sulfur dioxide
Sources:
- Unvented gas space or kerosene heaters
- Leaking furnaces and chimneys
- Backdrafting from furnaces, gas water heaters,
- wood stoves, fireplaces, gas stoves
- Automobile exhaust within attached garages
- Environmental tobacco smoke
Health Effects:
- At low concentrations: Fatigue in healthy people
- Chest pain in people with heart disease
- At high concentrations: flu-like symptoms that clear up after leaving the area
- Headaches, Dizziness, Confusion, Nausea
- Extremely high concentrations: May be fatal, cancer, asthma, respiratory tract infections
Remediation:
-
 Assure that gas appliances are properly adjusted and maintained
- Replace unvented space heaters with vented heaters
- Assure that gas stoves are vented to the outdoors
- Open flues when fireplaces are in use
- Use proper fuel in kerosene heaters
- Change filters on central heating and cooling systems according to manufacturers directions
- Use mechanical or electronic air cleaners and ion generators
- Have central air handling systems, including furnaces, flues and chimneys inspected annually and promptly
- Repair cracks or damaged parts
- Provide fresh air ventilation to enclosed spaces
- Do not idle car in garage
- Do not use charcoal pits indoors
- Eliminate or discourage smoking indoors
|Environmental Public
Health Site Map|
|
About
Us |
Site Map |
What's
New |
Divisions |
Programs |
Publications |
| Jobs | Home
| Harris County |
Disclaimer
Last updated: January 05, 2009
Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services
2223 West Loop South
Houston, TX 77027
Tel: (713) 439-6000
Webmaster
|
.jpg)