Key Points

Fire

• Flammable gas
• May react violently with other substances
• In the event of a fire involving carbon monoxide, use fine water spray with normal fire-fighting clothing and breathing apparatus

Health

• Toxic when inhaled
• Following short-term exposure symptoms such as headache, dizziness, confusion, disorientation, memory loss, fainting, coma and death may arise
• Effects such as fast heart rate and breathing, low blood pressure and cardiac arrest may also occur
• Long-term effects may occur such as behavioural changes
• Long-term exposure to low concentrations of carbon monoxide may cause tiredness, headaches, sickness, dizziness, personality changes, memory problems, visual and hearing loss
• Carbon monoxide may cause harm to the unborn child

Environment

• Unlikely to pose a significant risk to the environment

Information on CO awareness and press releases on CO

All sections are available to download in PDF format below:

• Carbon monoxide - Full Document (PDF, 119 KB)
• General Information (PDF, 54 KB)
• Incident Management (PDF, 52 KB)
• Toxiocological Overview (PDF, 46 KB)

Background