Re: Can I be getting sick from gas stove? Carbon monoxide

[Guest guest]

Good advice. Even total electric homes can have excessive indoor carbon monoxide (CO) from vehicle exhaust, self cleaning oven, and other sources. Keep in

mind that “carbon monoxide alarms are intended to alarm at carbon monoxide levels below those that cause a loss of ability to react to the dangers of carbon monoxide exposures.”

This is based on the concentration and duration of CO in the air that would result in an estimated amount of CO in an exposed person’s blood (carboxyhemoglobin, COHb)). 2.5% COHb is the conservative estimate of a no effect level in people, including

sensitive populations. Home CO alarms are designed to sound an alarm at a calculated 10% COHb. If the alarm sounds, get out and call you gas utility company and/or fire department. Don’t open doors and windows to ventilate on the way out – that makes it more

difficult for responders to determine what was happening and prolongs your exposure. So while a CO alarm can help prevent death or other serious harm, the absence of an alarm sound does not eliminate CO as possible cause of adverse health effects, particularly

in people with pre-existing heart/lungs conditions or other conditions that would make them more susceptible.

Curtis

From: iequality [mailto:iequality ]

On Behalf Of Freund, Alice

Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 11:45 AM

To: iequality

Subject: RE: Can I be getting sick from gas stove?

Whatever you do make sure you have a working reliable CO detector installed in the home.

From: iequality [mailto:iequality ]

On Behalf Of CarolF

Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 12:26 PM

To: iequality

Subject: Can I be getting sick from gas stove?

I recently moved into a rental home that has a gas kitchen stove and I have been experiencing symptoms such as light-headedness, ringing in my head and tightness in my head, as well as fatigue. As a person suffering with chemical

sensitivities, I wonder if I can be so sensitive to the gas that it is making me sick. My elderly mom lives with me and exhibits no symptoms, but she's not chemically sensitive. From what I've read online, there are all kinds of gases mixed with the gas that

comes out of the burners when they're turned on, so it is very possible I may be unable to now tolerate gas stoves. Finally, is simply not using the gas stove for a week or so adequate testing to see if I'm reacting to the gas, or should I have the gas line

to the stove shut off while I do my experiment to see if not having any gas in the house makes me feel better.

Any knowledge you can share with me would be appreciated. Thanks.

Carol

[Guest guest]

We had the gas to the kitchen stove turned off yesterday and I definitely notice a positive difference in how I feel.  I'm not back to normal but MUCH better.  Just goes to show that with my chemical sensitivities I AM the canary in the coalmine, being so sensitive to very low levels of chemicals, since my mom who lives w/me had no symptoms at all.  I would not wish this illness on anyone. 

 

Thanks for the advice.

 

Carol

 

Good advice. Even total electric homes can have excessive indoor carbon monoxide (CO) from vehicle exhaust, self cleaning oven, and other sources. Keep in mind that “carbon monoxide alarms are intended to alarm at carbon monoxide levels below those that cause a loss of ability to react to the dangers of carbon monoxide exposures.” This is based on the concentration and duration of CO in the air  that would result in an estimated amount of CO in an exposed person’s blood (carboxyhemoglobin, COHb)). 2.5% COHb is the conservative estimate of a no effect level in people, including sensitive populations. Home CO alarms are designed to sound an alarm at a calculated 10% COHb. If the alarm sounds, get out and call you gas utility company and/or fire department. Don’t open doors and windows to ventilate on the way out – that makes it more difficult for responders to determine what was happening and prolongs your exposure. So while a CO alarm can help prevent death or other serious harm, the absence of an alarm sound does not eliminate CO as possible cause of adverse health effects, particularly in people with pre-existing heart/lungs conditions or other conditions that would make them more susceptible.

 

Curtis

 

 

From: iequality [mailto:iequality ] On Behalf Of Freund, Alice

Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 11:45 AMTo: iequality Subject: RE: Can I be getting sick from gas stove?

 

Whatever you do make sure you have a working reliable CO detector installed in the home.

 

From: iequality [mailto:iequality ] On Behalf Of CarolF

Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 12:26 PMTo: iequality Subject: Can I be getting sick from gas stove?

 

 

I recently moved into a rental home that has a gas kitchen stove and I have been experiencing symptoms such as light-headedness, ringing in my head and tightness in my head, as well as fatigue. As a person suffering with chemical sensitivities, I wonder if I can be so sensitive to the gas that it is making me sick. My elderly mom lives with me and exhibits no symptoms, but she's not chemically sensitive. From what I've read online, there are all kinds of gases mixed with the gas that comes out of the burners when they're turned on, so it is very possible I may be unable to now tolerate gas stoves. Finally, is simply not using the gas stove for a week or so adequate testing to see if I'm reacting to the gas, or should I have the gas line to the stove shut off while I do my experiment to see if not having any gas in the house makes me feel better.

Any knowledge you can share with me would be appreciated. Thanks.Carol

 

--

 

 

[Guest guest]

Yes, within a few hours of the gas company shutting off the gas to my house and

me airing it out, I began to feel better. Within a few weeks of the repair a

dermatitis I had for years began to clear up. There are 27 joints in the gas

pipeline here and shifts in foundation from time to time so I will have to check

it myself on a regular basis. Noone who came here noticed the gas smell. I only

smelled 'something' occasionally but didn't smell like gas to me and the odor

only lasted briefly so I discounted it. The energy audit found it and it was a

good size one gas company technician said.