Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that causes thousands of deaths each year in North America. Breathing in carbon monoxide is very dangerous. It is the leading cause of poisoning death in the United States.

This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you should call your local emergency number (such as 911) or the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Carbon monoxide is a chemical produced from the incomplete burning of natural gas or other products containing carbon.

The following items may produce carbon monoxide:

• Anything that burns coal, gasoline, kerosene, oil, propane, or wood
• Automobile engines
• Charcoal grills (charcoal should never be burned indoors)
• Indoor and portable heating systems
• Portable propane heaters
• Stoves (indoor and camp stoves)
• Water heater that use natural gas

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

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Carbon monoxide poisoning Symptoms

Review Date: 02/02/2011
Reviewed By: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)