Carbon Monoxide and CO detection

Detectagas are experts in carbon monoxide and CO testing, diagnosis, and alarm equipment. We sell CO detectors kits, CO spray testing kits, carbon monoxide detectors, carbon monoxide alarms and other HSE carbon monoxide products as well as prodcuts from manufactueres such as Kidde, innotec, sensotec, sensotec4warn, and First Alert. We aim to prevent monoxide poisoning and death from appliances such as gas boilers, gas fires, grills, ovens etc. due to co failure. Our products conform to UL 2034, BS 7860, and BSEN 50291.

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detectagas - test your carbon monoxide alarms

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Carbon monoxide can cause harmful effects by reducing oxygen delivery to the body's organs and tissues. CO replaces oxygen in the bloodstream, eventually causing suffocation.  Mild CO poisoning feels like the flu, but more serious poisoning leads to difficulty breathing and even death. 

Cardiovascular Effects The health threat from lower levels of CO is most serious for those who suffer from heart disease, like angina, clogged arteries or congestive heart failure. For a person with heart disease, a single exposure to CO at low levels may cause chest pain and reduce that person's ability to exercise; repeated exposures may contribute to other cardiovascular effects.

Central Nervous System Effects Even healthy people can be effected by high levels of CO. People who breathe high levels of CO can develop vision problems, reduced ability to work or learn, reduced manual dexterity and difficulty performing complex tasks. At extremely high levels, CO is poisonous and can cause death.

Just how sick people get from CO exposure varies greatly from person to person, depending on age, overall health, the concentration of the exposure (measured in parts per million) and the length of the exposure.
 

 

Concentration (parts per million)

 

 

Symptoms

 

35

No adverse effects within 8 hours.

200

Mild headache after 2-3 hours of exposure.

400

Headache and nausea after 1-2 hours of exposure.

800

Headache, nausea and dizziness after 45 minutes; collapse after 2 hours.

1,000

Loss of consciousness after 1 hour.

1,600

Headache, nausea and dizziness after 20 minutes; unconsciousness after 30 minutes.

3,200

Headache, nausea and dizziness after 5-10 minutes; unconsciousness after 30 minutes.

12,800

Immediate physiological effects; unconsciousness and danger of death 1-3 minutes


Effects of Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) Saturation

When carbon monoxide replaces oxygen in the blood, a condition known as carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) saturation results. COHb levels do not consider the length of exposure. As more and more CO accumulates in the blood, the percentage of COHb gets higher and higher and people get sicker and sicker.

 

 

COHb Saturation (%)

 

 

Symptoms

0-10

None

10-20

Tension in forehead, dilation of skin vessels.

20-30

Headache and pulsating temples.

30-40

Severe headache, weariness, dizziness, weakened sight, nausea, vomiting, prostration.

40-50

Same as above plus increased breathing and pulse rates, asphyxiation.

50-60

Same as above plus coma, convulsions

60-70

Coma, convulsions, weak respiration and pulse. Death is possible.

70-80

Slowing and stopping of breathing, death within hours.

80-90

Death in less than 1 hour.

90-100

Death within a few minutes.

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