Low level CO poisoning can cause headaches, weakness, sleepiness, nausea, disorientation and dizzy spells after 2-3 hours of exposure. Greater concentrations cause symptoms to appear more rapidly, with frontal headaches, dizziness, nausea and convulsions within minutes and death within hours. Breathing very high concentrations of carbon monoxide can be lethal in minutes. Long term exposure to low levels can cause permanent heart and brain damage. CO levels in the body can easily be measured by a simple blood test.
Carbon monoxide is a common by-product of all home furnaces and appliances that use flammable fuel.
Another contributing factor is lack of sufficient air exchange in airtight efficiency homes. CO can rise undetected from the garage into the residences above. CO takes over silently, with no detectable odor. To protect your family you must familiarize yourself with potential problem areas in your home. Never burn charcoal inside a home, garage, cabin or camper.