People are exposed to chemicals every day. Chemicals exist everywhere, in everything from our cleaning products to the air we breathe, and even in the materials that make up our homes, like carpet and plastic. We live in a chemical world. We are exposed to more chemicals in our lifetimes than at any other time in history. Most of these chemicals are considered harmless. Some of them are. However, over time, exposure to all these chemicals can make us sick. Even the things that are considered harmless can cause problems with prolonged exposure. Sometimes, this comes from things in our homes we don’t think about.
Natural gas is responsible for 24% of energy production in the United States. It is used for everything, from powering industrial machinery to producing electricity, to fueling busses and other vehicles. Natural Gas is the cleanest of the fossil fuels. It produces fewer emissions and less environmental pollution than other fossil fuels. The most common byproducts of the burning of natural gas are methane, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. For these reasons, natural gas is being used more and more as a fuel source, both on an industrial and commercial scale, and for residential, in-home consumption. Twenty-two percent of natural gas consumption in America is residential.
Pipes bring natural gas into our homes to cook our food, heat our water and homes, and dry our clothes. Stoves, water heaters, furnaces, and dryers can be powered by natural gas. This means more than just a monthly gas bill for some people. While natural gas is mostly considered safe and is cleaner than any other fossil fuel, there are risks.
The most obvious risk would be a gas leak. Pipes can break, seals can leak, and the air in your home can fill with natural gas. There are safety measures in place, such as adding an odorant to the gas to make it detectable within the home, that help alert residents to gas exposure. This odorant smells like rotten eggs, which can alert residents to a need to evacuate. Unfortunately, these odorants are not always detectable. Having a gas leak in your home can lead to fires and explosions, but it can also lead to health problems for you and your family.
The biggest silent risk of natural gas in your home is carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that is found in combustion fumes, such as those from natural gas-powered dryers, furnaces and water heaters. It can build up in poorly ventilated areas of your home. Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide causes health problems.
The most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, weakness, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. Exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide can lead to loss of consciousness and even death. Carbon monoxide exposure can be difficult to diagnose because these symptoms are common to many different illnesses and diseases that are not caused by environmental factors. Sometimes exposure is sudden, and people who are sleeping or intoxicated can be overcome without experiencing symptoms.
Everyone is at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. No one is immune. Clearly, this is dangerous. There are some things that can be done to prevent exposure. There are carbon monoxide detectors available that can alert residents to the presence of harmful levels of carbon monoxide. Opening windows and ventilating homes can also help. There are other steps that can be taken to prevent the build-up of carbon monoxide in the first place. Make sure your gas appliances are installed properly by a certified technician. They know how to install the ventilation equipment so that carbon monoxide is not venting into your home. Also make sure that your gas appliances are inspected and maintained every year by a professional. A little bit of care can prevent a lifetime of pain and discomfort.
A person can be sensitized to natural gas without any of these things happening. It, along with pesticides, is the number one offender for chemical sensitivity in the home. Sensitization can cause chronic fatigue, vasculitis (small vessel), and many other maladies.
Resources:
www.cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm
www.naturalgas.org
www.eia.gov/nauralgas
www.mayoclinic.org
www.ehcd.com
Environmental health hazards that affect our health including EMF, chemicals and mold.
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