Carbon Monoxide in Your Car

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a danger not just within the home and office, but also environmentally.

Up until the 1970s, carbon monoxide pollution from automobiles was a big problem. However, in the 1970s, auto manufacturers began to develop sophisticated systems that could convert CO emissions, cutting up to eight percent of pollution from cars and vehicles.

Increasingly advanced systems over the years made it possible to cut this pollution by up to ninety percent, and today’s vehicles produce far less carbon monoxide fumes and emissions than vehicles from forty years ago.

However, as the number of cars in use increases, the pollution level from carbon monoxide fumes will also increase, and so manufacturers will need to look at designing systems that are even more efficient than those in use today.

Motor vehicles are a source of carbon monoxide, even though levels have been reduced over the years, it is therefore important that motorists are aware of how they can reduce the risks of carbon monoxide pollution and poisoning from their vehicles.

If you find that you experience symptoms consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning whenever you are driving or in the car, it is important that you get your exhaust checked out for leaks.

Symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, tiredness, flue-type symptoms, nausea and even loss of consciousness.

You may find that your symptoms improve whenever you are away from the car but come back or become worse whenever you are in the car. This is a definite sign that you should get your vehicle checked out for CO leakage.

If you keep your car in a garage at home, you should never leave the engine running idle in an enclosed space. This can cause a build up of carbon monoxide fumes in the garage area, and can also cause CO pollution to seep in to the house, which poses a risk to everyone in the home.

You should bear in mind that vehicles tend to give off more carbon monoxide emission during the colder months because more fuel is required in order to start and run the engine during cold weather.

You are advised to ensure that you regularly have your vehicle checked for excessive CO emissions during the winter months, as this could help to protect you and others.

It is vital that motorists take the same precautions to avoid carbon monoxide pollution and poisoning when in their vehicles as they would in the home or office.

Carbon monoxide is still as deadly when the leakage or pollution is from your vehicle as it is from any other source, and without taking steps to prevent, identify and reduce this pollution you could suffer serious illness, injury or death.

The risks of death are further increased from vehicle CO poisoning, as you could quite easily crash your vehicle if you start to become drowsy or feel unwell from the poisoning when you are driving.

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