“If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.” Isaac Asimov (1920-1992, bio link)
Solving one problem and creating another
There is an article from an April 20, 1918 Scientific American Magazine that includes a photo of a barge of sewer pipe being towed out of a small harbor. The article accompanying the photo describes the proud times when Cleveland, Ohio would be able to take care of the problem of raw sewage and dump it out, around 2500 feet into the water of Lake Erie. It seemed like such a big lake. Who would have ever thought this would become a hazard later when the initial problem was solved? (History can also show us it wasn’t happening just in Lake Erie and that we might even feel a little bit ashamed about it now. )
Industry and city and government and even citizens worldwide apparently didn’t seem to think dumping waste and poisons into fresh water or sea water was that big of a deal, we were making progress. There has been some discussion as to whether common sense, science, regulation or odd rashes on the bodies of swimmers began to change that foul habit that unfortunately continues still in some places.
So in the same sense, our culture of combustion and the products, travel, recreation, comfort and the industry it creates has caught us up into mistakes of actions that may be or have been deadly, unhealthy and costly. Some mistakes cannot be corrected. Some have dire consequences. Carbon monoxide poisoning is the most personal villain.
Since around 1850 and the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and the burgeoning of the Human Combustion Culture historical records show humanity dumping combustion gases directly into our open atmosphere at ever increasing rates. These are gases in addition to the naturally occurring volcano and forest fire combustion gases.
The sky still looks a lot bigger than Lake Erie did in 1918. We apparently have not corrected our instincts to spoil while solving problems in our efforts to build products, recreate, generate energy, solve health & sanitation issues and make money doing it. We even fight about how much is too much, and what is acceptable destruction. The advances in the use of combustion technology certainly solved many economic problems but at what consequences? Will we have to wait until catastrophe is felt to react? Do we have to wait until a river catches on fire to begin to fix the problem? That seems to be our instinct. See Cuyahoga River Fire
Do we solve a pollution problem with more combustion? Can we learn to live safer in this combustion culture while we wean ourselves from its’ entrapment? Do we even want to? Be careful with combustion gases. Bob Dwyer, CSME Carbon Monoxide Safety
CO News Links
A Silent Killer: Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning .
Student Health Care Center
University of Florida By Mary Devlin
Summer months bring heavy rain, tropical storms, and hurricanes that can all lead to power outages. If you use alternative sources of energy during these power outages such as a generator then you are at risk for ...
Slaving over hot stove in stuffy kitchen could be more dangerous than standing ...
Daily Mail
They found very low carbon monoxide levels in the kitchen of the rural house. But when the gas cookers were turned on in the flats, carbon monoxide levels started to spike. The gas cookers were also a significant source of nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
Industry Says EPA Findings Too High
Wheeling Intelligencer
A recent statement from EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson stated, "Methane, when released directly to the atmosphere, is a potent greenhouse gas - more than 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide." Jackson said the first phase of the stricter standards ...
Please take CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY CARE during all holiday and everyday activities.
Carbon Monoxide Survivor A website made by poisoning survivors that brings a view that can only come from those that know what it is like to have been poisoned - as well as live with the long term impact.
National Conference of State Legislatures
Carbon Monoxide Detectors State Statutes
Twenty-five U.S. states have statutes that require carbon monoxide detectors in certain residential buildings. Updated Nov. 2011
Alaska | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Florida | Georgia | Illinois | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts| Michigan | Minnesota | Montana | New Jersey | New Hampshire | New York | North Carolina | Oregon | Rhode Island | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | Wisconsin | West Virginia
Google Maps to reference the locations referenced in these Internet headlines.
Bald Eagle Camera Alcoa Bald Eagle Camera, Davenport, Iowa.
Placed here for now for something other than carbon monoxide news.
The following companies are acknowledged for their continued support of carbon monoxide safety education and this daily news blog. They may just have what you are looking for.
Fieldpiece
The Energy Conservatory
IntelliTec Colleges
CO Experts
Masimo (See the non-invasive RAD-57)
Mahugh Fire & Safety
Every Day is Carbon Monoxide Safety Day!
