Carbon monoxide: The silent killer
By H. Kishie Singh

MIRACLES do happen. Delhi-New Delhi, is just one example. From being one of the most environmentally polluted cities in the world, it has improved to being the least polluted city in India.

It all began on April 1, 2000. It was not an April Fools’ joke. It was an order from the Supreme Court. Vehicles not complying with Euroemission norms could not ply on the roads. An estimated 60,000 to 65,000 vehicles went off the road the first day. An equal number in the next few days. Delhi was on its way to recovery. In four short months, Delhi air was breathable.

Tests in the last few years have shown that a policeman on duty at cross roads may be surrounded by about 150 cars which are standing still with engines idling. Breathing this air would be the equivalent of smoking 20 cigarettes a day. The killer gases thus emitted have huge doses of carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen monoxide (NO).

Since both are colourless and odourless, they are easily camouflaged by petrol and diesel fumes and people gulp them in large quantities. There is nothing else to breath! Respiratory diseases, especially among children, rise dramatically. Carbon monoxide is the culprit. It is the silent killer.

Just how deadly these gases are, was evident in Delhi a couple of months ago. In what later came to be known as the Chander-Rachna case, two youngsters, wanting to be alone, parked their car in a garage, lowered the shutter and locked it. What fun! A car with an air conditioner, music, alcohol — a delightful but deadly combination. However, they had to keep the engine running so that the air conditioner could work. This meant carbon monoxide and nitrogen monoxide were being spewed out through the exhaust. The door of the garage was locked and hence the poisonous fumes could not escape. They found their way into the car cabin and the result was the sad loss of two young lives.

That’s how deadly exhaust gases are. In Canada it is illegal to keep your engine idling for more than one minute. This rule, apart from controlling environment pollution, ensures the safety and protection of the driver and passengers. The only vehicles exempted from this rule are police cars and taxis who have to wait for long periods. And it is mandatory for the vehicles to run on CNG (compressed natural gas), which has minimal toxins.

Carbon monoxide enters the blood stream up to 300 times faster than oxygen, choking off a person’s oxygen supply. This state is called carboxyhaemoglobin. The victim can go into a stupor, paralysis can set in, and death may result.

Initial symptoms could be lack of clarity in thought and mental confusion. This could stop one from taking sensible steps like switching off the engine. In such a situation, one should leave the car, leave the garage or confined space and lie down in a well-ventilated area. Breathe deeply and pray!

For reasons of safety, you should drive into a garage, so that your exhaust is near the entrance. This way the gases will be emitted into open air and not remain in the confines of the garage.

Here are some precautions that may be exercised to avoid such accidents:

Never sleep in a closed car. On a cold, windy, wintry day in Chandigarh, the car is warmer than any room in the house! One may be tempted to sit in the cabin, read, listen to music, and munch on something. Do not switch on the engine. Keep a window open. Play safe.

Do not even sit in a closed car, which is parked in a garage. Drop all passengers at the entrance, drive in, park, lock and leave.

If at any time, especially while driving, you feel giddy or nauseous, pull over at once and stop. Remember, if CO has leaked into the cabin, two minutes (120 seconds!) could be too long. If someone in the car has fainted or is unconscious seek immediate medical help.

Happy motoring!