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Objective: The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) Doc-
Center has received more and more reports of cases of carbon monoxide
(CO) poisoning, some even with fatal outcomes after indoor
use of charcoal grills. CO is odorless, colorless, non-irritant and
does not produce any other warning effect perceptible to humans.
The BfR and the Federal Institute for Materials Research and
Testing (BAM) have completed a cooperative research project to
investigate the toxic concentrations of CO that are reached when
charcoal grills or open fires are used indoors.
Methods: The first test series were conducted in a 1 m3 measuring
chamber. Since the situation of larger interiors could not be
reproduced, additional measurements had to be taken (with 800 g
of glowing charcoal each) in a larger cloud chamber with a spatial
volume of 19 m3. This chamber provides a good model for a small
garage or a living room. CO concentrations were measured both
under the ceiling and in the immediate vicinity of the grill. Systematic
experiments were conducted. The data collected provided the
basis for additional computer simulations, where the distribution of
CO in rooms of any size could be calculated
Results: The glowing charcoal releases considerable amounts of
toxic gases, notably CO. Based on calculations in a closed garage
where 800 g of charcoal are burned for 30 min, CO concentrations
of between 750 and 1100 ppm (parts per million) are to be
expected. Based on clinical data, 200 ppm of CO in the ambient
air causes slight headaches after 2 h. At 800 ppm, dizziness and
nausea are experienced. After about 2 h of exposure to such a
concentration, humans lose consciousness. Within no more than
2 h of glowing embers from 800 g of charcoal, CO concentrations
exceeding 3000 ppm were measured, which are fatal for humans
after a few minutes.
Conclusion: According to the release curves, dangerous carbon
monoxide levels are already reached within a relatively short time.
Even when windows, doors and the garage door are opened for
safety reasons, fatal CO concentrations can build up rapidly. It is
strongly recommend that no burning materials such as charcoal are
used indoors as a heat source for grilling, cooking or heating.