Carbon Monoxide Tests at Home Urged
Berkeley teen's death raises seasonal concerns
Debra Levi Holtz, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 1, 1999
©2000 San Francisco Chronicle

URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/12/01/MN87917.DTL


BERKELEY -- Bay Area residents should take precautions before turning on their dormant heaters as cold weather approaches, health officials say, a warning highlighted by the death of a Berkeley teenager from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Residents are urged to have annual inspections of their fuel-burning appliances, particularly older wall or floor gas furnaces. To play it safe, people are also encouraged to buy carbon monoxide detectors that sound an alarm when dangerous levels of the odorless gas are detected.

Every year, accidental carbon monoxide poisoning kills hundreds of people in the United States, including an average of 45 Californians, state officials say. Thousands of others become ill from exposure to hazardous levels of the gas.

More than half the deaths are the result of malfunctioning or improperly vented combustion appliances such as gas furnaces and space heaters, according to the California Air Resources Board.

Last week, 17-year-old Seetha Vemireddy died after a blocked vent in a wall-mounted gas heater spread lethal levels of carbon monoxide through her Berkeley apartment.

Such accidents can be avoided, health officials said yesterday, through the proper maintenance and venting of any household appliance that produces a flame. People who heat with propane appliances, aging gas furnaces or fireplaces are warned to be especially careful.

Before the temperatures dip, residents should have annual checkups of their gas furnaces by a qualified professional. Like most utility companies, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. will send a technician to turn on a pilot light or inspect a heating appliance free of charge.

Air Resources Board spokesman Jerry Martin said annual inspections are particularly important for the type of wall-mounted heater found in the Berkeley teenager's apartment. Malfunctions are more common in those appliances because the heaters tend to be older and more fragile, he said.

``If used without being checked, it can be fatal,'' said Martin.

Although not required by law like smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors are becoming more popular. After last week's death of the Berkeley girl, Bay Area stores are reporting an increase in sales of the devices.

``They are moving very fast,'' said Quentin Moore, manager of the Berkeley Ace Hardware on University Avenue. ``Every year at this time there's a run on carbon monoxide detectors when the weather gets cold and after a deadly accident.''

Costco reported that its Northern California division had unusually high sales of carbon monoxide detectors last week. Six Bay Area warehouses sold out their entire stock of the $36.99 devices, including those in San Leandro, Richmond and Foster City.

Commonly, the devices, which usually range in price from $28 to $50, plug in to an electrical outlet with a battery backup. They set off an alarm when they detect unsafe levels of carbon monoxide.

``They could save your life,'' said Martin.

Carbon monoxide is known as a silent killer because it can cause someone to pass out without warning. The gas has no color, no odor and no taste. The poisonous gas enters the bloodstream and reduces the delivery of oxygen to the body's organs and tissues.

Most health officials say indoor carbon monoxide levels of more than 35 parts per million are unsafe and should be corrected. Last week, PG&E measured more than 2,000 parts per million in the apartment of the Berkeley teenager and in several other units in her building.

Even low-level carbon monoxide exposure can cause flulike symptoms, health experts say, including nausea, headaches and shortness of breath. People who believe they have been exposed to the poisonous gas are urged to turn off their appliances, get fresh air and seek emergency medical help.


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CARBON MONOXIDE

Fuel-burning household appliances, including heaters, furnaces, water heaters and fireplaces, may produce carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that kills nearly 300 people in their homes in the United States each year.

-- Initial symptoms of poisoning are similar to the flu, including dizziness, nausea and headaches. If you feel any of them and feel better when you go outside, you may have carbon monoxide poisoning.

-- Install appliances according to manufacturer's instructions and have heating systems inspected and serviced annually. Check chimneys and vents regularly for improper connections, visible rust or stains.

-- Never burn charcoal indoors or use the gas range or oven for heating. Never operate unvented gas-burning appliances in a closed room, and never leave a car running in a garage. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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