| Abstract: | Most houses in the Netherlands are equipped with gas-fired heaters and cooking appliances,since large amounts of natural gas are available within the country since the mid-1960's. Carbon monoxide poisoning due to coal fires has virtually ceased to exist when coal-fired heaters were replaced by gas heaters. However, such poisonings still occur, although to a lesser extent, due to the use of instantaneous water heaters (geisers) that are gas fired. An investigation was carried out to establish the CO production potential of geisers under normal conditions of use. The study involved 254 houses; the results indicated that 17% of the geisers produced a CO level of more than 50 μL/L in the kitchens where they were located, after 15 min of operation. Presence of a flue, burner type, and maintenance system proved to be the main controlling factors. |
