Carbon Monoxide Monitoring

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Carbon Monoxide Monitoring

• Presented by Interscan Corporation

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CARBON MONOXIDE

• SYNONYMS
• Coal gas
• Carbon oxide
• Carbonic oxide
• Exhaust gas
• Flue gas
• Monoxide

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CARBON MONOXIDE IS THE MOST COMMON TOXIC GAS
CO is one of the few toxic gases that can be
encountered at home or on the job

• As a product of combustion, it is ubiquitous

Colorless and odorless, CO is a silent killer
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CO HEALTH EFFECTS

At 200-300 ppm, can cause fatigue in healthy
individuals, and chest pain in those with heart
disease.
At higher concentrations, can cause impaired
vision and coordination headaches dizziness
confusion nausea.
Can cause flu-like symptoms (ca. 250 ppm) that
clear up when in clean air.
At 2000 ppm, can be rapidly fatal
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TOXICOLOGY
Carbon monoxide is an asphyxiant
Inhalation of CO causes tissue hypoxia by
preventing the blood from carrying sufficient
oxygen
Carbon monoxide combines reversibly with
hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin
The reduction in oxygen-carrying capacity of the
blood is proportional to the amount of
carboxyhemoglobin formed
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Occupational Exposure Standards
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OSHA Standards (as of Feb, 2011)
The OSHA PEL ( Permissible Exposure Limit, based
on an 8-hour time-weighted average) is 50 ppm
Special provision for maritime workers/longshoring
29 CFR 1918.94(a)(1)(i)) employees shall be
removed from the enclosed space if the CO
concentration exceeds a ceiling of 100 ppm.
Exception The ceiling shall be 200 ppm instead
of 100 ppm for Ro-Ro operations.
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ACGIH TLV Threshold Limit Value (as of Feb,
2011)
TLV-TWA (based on an 8-hour time-weighted
average) is 25 ppm
Biological Exposure Index (BEI) is recommended
for carbon monoxide - Based on percent
carboxyhemoglobin saturation in blood, or
end-expired CO concentration in alveolar air
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NIOSH REL Recommended Exposure Limits (as of
Feb, 2011)
TLV-TWA (based on an 8-hour time-weighted
average) is 35 ppm
Ceiling value of 200 ppm (should not be exceeded
at any time)
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NIOSH IDLH Immediately Dangerous to Life and
Health (as of Feb, 2011)
1200 ppm
IDLH The airborne concentration from which a
worker could escape without injury or
irreversible health effects, in the event of the
failure of respiratory protection equipment.
IDLH values are based on effects that might occur
as a consequence of a 30-minute exposure.
Regardless of the 30-minute basis, if equipment
failure occurs, LEAVE THE AREA AT ONCE!!
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GRADE D BREATHING AIR Per ANSI / CGA
G-7.1.1989
As it pertains to carbon monoxide
No more than 10 ppm
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Applications Engineering
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AT A MINIMUM, CONSIDER
Portable/survey or fixed continuous monitoring
requirement?
Interfering gases present?
Will unit be used/installed in electrically
hazardous area?
Is data logging needed?
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For more information on how Interscan can help
you solve your carbon monoxide problems,
Visit our website http//www.gasdetection.com