{"id":3187,"date":"2024-07-04T05:20:17","date_gmt":"2024-07-04T09:20:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/hooklinescience\/?p=2720"},"modified":"2024-07-10T09:03:02","modified_gmt":"2024-07-10T13:03:02","slug":"can-boating-cause-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/hooklinescience\/can-boating-cause-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Can boating cause carbon monoxide poisoning?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
Danger is in the air \u2014 and you can\u2019t see or smell it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Safe Boating Campaign, a worldwide effort focused on responsible boating, has shared the National Safe Boating Council\u2019s key tips<\/a> for boaters to responsibly enjoy this weekend \u2014 always a time of high boating traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many boaters already are aware of the importance of life jackets in avoiding tragedy<\/a>, as well as how even small amounts of alcohol contribute to accidents on the water<\/a>. But there\u2019s also an invisible danger that can turn a boat outing deadly. Exhaust from your boat\u2019s engine or generator contains carbon monoxide, which can collect on or near your boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gasoline-powered engines on boats, including onboard generators, produce carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless and odorless gas, which can cause an array of health problems \u2014 even death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of increasing concern are CO-related poisonings and fatalities associated with recreational watercraft. From 2005 to 2018, there were 78 known deaths of people due to CO poisoning in the United States following use of recreational watercraft. But this number could be even higher, as some deaths may have been inaccurately attributed to drowning instead of CO poisoning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scientists wanted to examine the significance of this public health hazard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using handheld analyzers, the scientists monitored carbon monoxide levels on and around four boats, including the always popular back passenger seat \u2014 the closest seat to a boat\u2019s engine. The team took measurements at engine idle, as well as in motion at engine speeds that mimicked recreational activities. The four study boats \u2014 with different engines, hours in operation, and exhaust systems \u2014 provided an opportunity to investigate a range of CO exposure scenarios and represented a cross-section of boats at use on many U.S. waterways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The researchers also noted air temperature, relative humidity, and wind direction and speed to see how these conditions affected CO readings.<\/p>\n\n\n\nResearch Need<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What did they study?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n