Carbon Monoxide (CO)

CO (kolmonoxid), Kolmonoxid (Koloxid)

 Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and poisonous gas that is highly flammable and may form explosive mixtures with air^{1 2 3 4}.

Uses

Carbon monoxide is formed by incomplete combustion and the gas may be recycled and reused as fuel. Within the chemical industry, carbon monoxide is used in production of a number of different chemicals, such as acids, esters and alcohols⁵. Carbon monoxide is an effective reducing agent that is used in the metal industry during production of pig iron⁶. Consumer-available products do not contain carbon monoxide, however carbon monoxide may be formed when using or operating products, e.g. vehicles, tobacco, chain saws, lawn mowers, coal and wood fired barbeques⁷.

Sources and transportation pathways

Carbon monoxide is formed by incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels.⁸ Carbon monoxide is emitted to the atmosphere from natural and anthropogenic sources. Examples of natural sources are natural gas, volcanic activity, forest fires and during lightning^{9 10}. The main part of anthropogenic emissions in Sweden comes from transports, working machinery and heating of buildings¹¹. Of the large point sources, the metal industry and the pulp and paper industry are the largest contributors to national emissions¹².

Effects on environment and health

Carbon monoxide is absorbed in the lungs of humans and animals and by binding strongly to the haemoglobin in the blood it inhibits the body’s uptake of oxygen^{13 14}. Headache, dizziness, fatigue, daze, nausea, vomiting and unconsciousness may be symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning¹⁵. High concentration of carbon monoxide in ambient air may result in symptoms of angina in persons with heart conditions¹⁶.

International agreements and regulations

Carbon monoxide is regulated by the UN Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as well as by the EU Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC) and the EU Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU). The UN Protocol on PRTRs and the EU E-PRTR regulation regulate how data on carbon monoxide emissions is made available.



---------------------------------------------------

¹ http://www.norskeutslipp.no/en/Components/Emission/Carbon-monoxide/?ComponentType=utslipp&ComponentPageID=77 
² http://prtr.ec.europa.eu/#/pollutantinfo
³ http://www.aga.se/internet.lg.lg.swe/sv/images/Kolmonoxid_SE586_248696.pdf?v=1.0
⁴ https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-monoxide
⁵ http://www.linde-gas.com/en/products_and_supply/packaged_chemicals/product_range/carbon_monoxide.html
⁶ https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-monoxide
⁷ http://www.npi.gov.au/resource/carbon-monoxide-0
⁸ http://www.npi.gov.au/resource/carbon-monoxide-0
⁹ http://www.ne.se/uppslagsverk/encyklopedi/l%C3%A5ng/kolmonoxid
¹⁰ http://www.npi.gov.au/resource/carbon-monoxide-0
¹¹ http://www.naturvardsverket.se/Sa-mar-miljon/Statistik-A-O/Kolmonoxid-utslapp-till-luft/
¹² http://www.naturvardsverket.se/Sa-mar-miljon/Statistik-A-O/Kolmonoxid-utslapp-till-luft/
¹³ http://www.npi.gov.au/resource/carbon-monoxide-0
¹⁴ http://www.smhi.se/reflab/om-luftfororeningar/luftfororeningar/kolmonoxid-1.19669
¹⁵ https://giftinformation.se/kemikalieregister/kolmonoxid-koloxid/
¹⁶ http://www.naturvardsverket.se/Sa-mar-miljon/Klimat-och-luft/Luftfororeningar/Kolmonoxid/