One of my particular interests is in the history of carbon monoxide poisoning. I have quite a collection of old (some very old) medical research - a lot of it still very relevant to today.
I am planning to make a lot of this accessible through this site. To start with, clicking on this link will allow you to download a copy of a publication from 1970, in the Postgraduate Medical Journal. Medics from Newcastle describe their experiences of carbon monoxide over a three-year period. This was during a period when coal gas was piped into people's homes. The figures they cite are pretty amazing!
Tuesday 23 October 2007
Tuesday 16 October 2007
Thinking of getting a CO alarm?
Well, that means you haven't already got one, which is NOT good, but at least you're going to get one.
Get one today.
Get one that sounds an audible alarm, and that has the British Standard ('Kitemark') EN50291.
Better still, get one that has a digital display/readout, and also records peak levels.
One per household is an absolute minimum - one per flame-producing appliance (so one for every fire, boiler, cooker etc. in the house) is the ideal.
Consult the instructions that come with your alarm for the best place to fit it.
Get one today.
Get one that sounds an audible alarm, and that has the British Standard ('Kitemark') EN50291.
Better still, get one that has a digital display/readout, and also records peak levels.
One per household is an absolute minimum - one per flame-producing appliance (so one for every fire, boiler, cooker etc. in the house) is the ideal.
Consult the instructions that come with your alarm for the best place to fit it.
CO-Awareness Week 2007
As medical advisor to CO-Awareness, I am very pleased to be associated with the launch of the CO-Awareness week.
The week began with a seminar at the House of Lords on Monday October 15th. The meeting was chaired by Barry Sheerman MP, along with Lord McKenzie from the Department for Work and Pensions.
On Friday October 19th the CO-Awareness roadshow hits Dewsbury in West Yorkshire. From 10am we will be at Dewsbury Town Hall with information and discussion around carbon monoxide.
Details on the venue can be found by clicking here.
According to the recent CORGI Report, people in the Yorkshire region are at greatest risk from accidental CO exposure in the home.
The week began with a seminar at the House of Lords on Monday October 15th. The meeting was chaired by Barry Sheerman MP, along with Lord McKenzie from the Department for Work and Pensions.
On Friday October 19th the CO-Awareness roadshow hits Dewsbury in West Yorkshire. From 10am we will be at Dewsbury Town Hall with information and discussion around carbon monoxide.
Details on the venue can be found by clicking here.
According to the recent CORGI Report, people in the Yorkshire region are at greatest risk from accidental CO exposure in the home.
Tuesday 2 October 2007
Independent article
There is an interesting insight into the aftermath of carbon monoxide poisoning written by Richard Gill in the Independent of September 25th.
The piece also highlights that charcoal burning is a potent source of CO.
The piece also highlights that charcoal burning is a potent source of CO.
Friday 28 September 2007
New trial on HBOT (hyperbaric oxygen therapy)
Lindell Weaver and colleagues at Salt Lake City have just published their latest research on HBOT, in the America Journal of Respiratoy and Critical Care Medicine.
You can get a pdf copy of the paper by clicking this link:
Carbon monoxide Poisoning: risk factors for cognitive sequelae and the role of hyperbaric oxygen.
You can get a pdf copy of the paper by clicking this link:
Carbon monoxide Poisoning: risk factors for cognitive sequelae and the role of hyperbaric oxygen.
Saturday 22 September 2007
On-line teaching module
I have submitted an on-line teaching module on carbon monoxide, aimed mainly at emergency physicians (of all grades.)
This will hopefully be available in October 2007 via the College of Emergency medicine website, and www.doctors.net.uk.
More details and relevant links to follow soon.
This will hopefully be available in October 2007 via the College of Emergency medicine website, and www.doctors.net.uk.
More details and relevant links to follow soon.
CO Awareness week
CO Awareness week kicks off with an event at the House of Lords on Monday October 15th, starting 10.30am.
Then on Tuesday 16th, there's a meeting at the HSENI (Health & Safety Execuive of Northern Ireland). Wednesday the venue is the Welsh Assembly; Thursday it is the Scottish Parliament, and Friday October 19th the final event is at Dewsbury Town Hall, 10am start.
Directions at http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/events/venuedetails.asp?vID=22
Then on Tuesday 16th, there's a meeting at the HSENI (Health & Safety Execuive of Northern Ireland). Wednesday the venue is the Welsh Assembly; Thursday it is the Scottish Parliament, and Friday October 19th the final event is at Dewsbury Town Hall, 10am start.
Directions at http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/events/venuedetails.asp?vID=22
Tuesday 10 July 2007
Delayed Neuro problems - a Korean case
An interesting recent case report from Korea illustrating a case of delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae.
South Korea has one of the highest incidences of domestic, unintentional CO poisoning in the world, with a death rate about ten times that in the UK. This is thought to be thanks to the traditional heating methods in some Korean homes, which is to leave a large lump of charcoal smouldering underneath the house overnight.
South Korea has one of the highest incidences of domestic, unintentional CO poisoning in the world, with a death rate about ten times that in the UK. This is thought to be thanks to the traditional heating methods in some Korean homes, which is to leave a large lump of charcoal smouldering underneath the house overnight.
CORGI report
Hot off the press (or the pdf converter, anyway) is the latest report from CORGI into CO poisoning.
You can download a copy by clicking here.
You can download a copy by clicking here.
How does CO poison...?
Confused about the toxicology of CO poisoning?
Try this excellent overview from Toxicology in 2003.
Try this excellent overview from Toxicology in 2003.
Wednesday 11 April 2007
CO Awareness Capmaign Leaflets
You can download a copy of the latest advice leaflet from CO Awareness by going to the 'Useful Documents' box at the very bottom of this page.
Sunday 8 April 2007
An unusual side-effect of CO.
This recent post on prnewswire.com lists an unusual consumer danger from CO. It is apparently sometimes used to make packaged meat appear 'fresher' (i.e. pinker) than it really is!
You can see a warning video animation about this here.
You can see a warning video animation about this here.
Saturday 7 April 2007
'Delayed postanoxic encepalopathy'
Another name for 'DNS', or Delayed Neuropsychiatric Sequelae.
A case report from the Emergency Medicine Journal (http://emj.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/21/2/250).
pdf copy available by clicking here.
A case report from the Emergency Medicine Journal (http://emj.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/21/2/250).
pdf copy available by clicking here.
CO messes with your head - it's official.
It's quite well known that students are at high risk of CO exposure. What is less well known is that they are sometimes put deliberately at risk by their professors!
This valuable piece of research (Archives of Neurology 1998; 55 (6), 845) shows just how damaging low-level CO exposure is to the CNS. But I'm not sure it should have received ethical approval!
By going to this link to my public folder on box.net you can retrieve a pdf copy of this paper.
This valuable piece of research (Archives of Neurology 1998; 55 (6), 845) shows just how damaging low-level CO exposure is to the CNS. But I'm not sure it should have received ethical approval!
By going to this link to my public folder on box.net you can retrieve a pdf copy of this paper.
Forgotten anything lately... ?
Many people exposed to CO over long periods report problems with short-term memory as a consequence.
Could this paper have any connection with this phenomenon ?
Could this paper have any connection with this phenomenon ?
Tuesday 13 March 2007
CO Awareness Meeting at House of Lords
Lynn Griffiths of CO Awareness organised a meeting at the House of Lords on March 7th. This was a very useful starting point for discussion around current issues.
Dr. Ben Croxford presented the results of his survey into CO in domestic environments. You can see those results by clicking here, or by downloading the pdf file directly from the 'Useful Documents' box at the very bottom of this page.
One lady at the meeting was poisoned for 18 months longer than she need have been, all because a doctor in A&E told her that oil-fired appliances could not be a source of CO !
The main thrust of the meeting was discussion of the dangers of chronic, low-level exposure to CO. The gas is a potent toxin, and appears to favour the central and peripherous nervous systems when the victim is exposed to low levels over a period of time. More research in this area is certainly warranted.
The government pamphlet Indoor Air Pollution - Carbon Monoxide ends with the line 'Ask your doctor for advice if you feel ill'. Would you know what advice to give?
Dr. Ben Croxford presented the results of his survey into CO in domestic environments. You can see those results by clicking here, or by downloading the pdf file directly from the 'Useful Documents' box at the very bottom of this page.
One lady at the meeting was poisoned for 18 months longer than she need have been, all because a doctor in A&E told her that oil-fired appliances could not be a source of CO !
The main thrust of the meeting was discussion of the dangers of chronic, low-level exposure to CO. The gas is a potent toxin, and appears to favour the central and peripherous nervous systems when the victim is exposed to low levels over a period of time. More research in this area is certainly warranted.
The government pamphlet Indoor Air Pollution - Carbon Monoxide ends with the line 'Ask your doctor for advice if you feel ill'. Would you know what advice to give?
Inexpensive CO alarms
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