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Other Toxins
Over the years we have been running this charity, we have come across many cases of people saying they were made ill from leaks of natrual gas. We have also come across cases where the medics stated that some particular damage was not caused by Carbon Monoxide (CO).
It is of course extraordinarily difficult to obtain a test of appliances for CO. This means that although people usually cannot prove they have suffered from CO poisoning (because a blood or breath test is often too late to produce a positive for CO) it is generally assumed that any illness or damage suffered, has been caused by CO unless this is fought out in the courts by medical experts (very unusual as the majority of cases are settled before court).
It is this background that made us suspicious many years ago.
Some years ago Stephanie Trotter was telephoned by Gareth Hughes who, along with his wife Carole had been made very unwell by, they suspected their oil fired appliance. Gareth had done everything right, it was his home and his appliance so nobody had touched it. So we sent Harry Rogers, expert court witness to test his appliance. Harry found negligible CO but did inform Gareth that there were other products of combustion and aromatic hydrocarbons.
Gareth did some research on the Internet and came up with the following.
1. Evidence from the Internet - Please note you may have to copy these references into google rather than just click on them
www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/cat08/0407081208_Task7_cumbustion_report_issue1.pdf
This is a DEFRA document (i.e. a British Government document) search for NoX, PM10s, Dioxins, Furans and PCBs and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).
For natural gas see http://www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/ap42/ch01/final/c01s04.pdf and search for mercury, manganese, copper, arsenic, chromium, cadmium, barium, nickel etc. and see http://www.npi.gov.au/handbooks/aedmanuals/pubs/gasburning_ff.pdf
For details of other toxins found in Domestic Heating Oil or fuel oil (Kerosene) combustion see
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/ap42/ch01/final/c01s03.pdf
This is from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
For coal see http://www.npi.gov.au/handbooks/approved_handbooks/pubs/boilers.pdf
This is an Australian document.
For mercury in oceans from deposits from power stations see http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/may2009/2009-05-04-02.asp This document shows that mercury from coal fired power stations in China ends up in fish in the Pacific Ocean. Just think what a blocked flue could do to a person in a confined space.
Gareth also managed to obtain a test of his appliance by an environmental air monitoring expert (this is expensive). This test found the other toxins. Gareth and Carole also had their blood and urine tested and raised levels were found.
Please note the following matters, which are curious and supportive.
1. The Reach Legislation, which basically requires all products to have to be proved to be safe, excludes fuels. See http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2006:396:0001:0849:EN:PDF
2. A test house has assured CO-Gas Safety that the toxins (such as mercury, manganese etc.) are in such tiny amounts that they cannot possibly cause a problem, yet state that they have done no research to prove this nor can they quote any research done to prove this. All gas appliances are tested before sale for the CE Mark but they are tested with laboratory gasses, which are specially prepared to remove impurities, such as the other toxins.
3. At the All Party Parliamentary Gas Safety Group (APPGSG) meetings, although the other toxins including the toxins were discussed, none of the energy companies present denied that they existed.
4. Dr. Walker GP in the APPGSG stated that the other toxic compounds may well be responsible for some of the long-term consequences – see Page 19 of the report January 2009 see http://www.gassafetygroup.org.uk/lib/docs/allpartygassafetygroupreport_medicalawareness.pdf ‘Treatment for the long-term effects of CO exposure is, according to Dr Ed Walker is much more complicated. The picture is complicated by the fact that victims exposed to CO are often exposed to other toxic compounds at the same time, and it may be these that are responsible for some of the long-term consequences. However survivors of severe episodes of exposure often have extensive brain damage which can be demonstrated on MRI scans of the brain. This sort of damage is permanent and irreversible.’
5.. We have many other cases over the years in which toxicologists cannot explain damage suffered as resulting from CO, yet is consistent with damage as a result of the toxins.
6. There is a case of a three year old, who died with a gas appliance in his bedroom, who had insufficient CO in his blood to kill him. However, Stephanie Trotter, OBE was told by the Coroner, that he had raised levels of toxins manganese, arsenic, barium and nicket (the manganese was apparently 15 times the higher levels - the levels of the other toxins are at present unknown). This inquest is yet to be held and it is difficult to know how this case will turn out. The mother is naturally desperate to find out why her son had these levels and has wracked her brain for an explanation.
Please note that the APPGSG has refused to examine the other toxins confining their inquiry to CO only. However, as we submitted to the APPGSG, if poisons in water were being considered, and if toxins A,B,C and D were known to exist in water, surely it would be pointless and dangerous to consider only toxin A? Yet this in effect, is what the APPGSG continues to do.
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Please also note that it is extremely difficult for our victims to obtain the services of toxicologists to assist them in any meaningful way. The only toxicologists who have been at all helpful seem to have emigrated (e.g. Dr. Alison Jones who was head of Guys Toxicology unit) or retired or undertake research work only. We have tried very hard to obtain the name of a toxicologist to advise on the poisoning of foetuses, but it seems that there is nobody in the UK who can do this or if there is, they are unwilling to assist.
Proposed research
CO-Gas Safety wants research into:-
- What is in gas before and after combustion (although this seems obvious from the documents on the Internet) and whether it is possible for significant amounts of toxins to be emitted into the atmosphere or far worse, blown back into or remaining in a dwelling when there is a partially blocked flue? Would incomplete combustion affect this other than to increase CO? What about flueless appliances such as cookers and some fires? To undertake this research an independent body would have to be found to test the gas before combustion and after combustion using gas in pipes and burned in a boiler with a flue, a boiler with a partially blocked flue. This would also have to be done for a gas fire and also for a cooker in an average kitchen with average ventilation. Also a flueless gas fire should be tested.
- It is also possible that while the amounts of the toxins in fuels are small, these could build up in the body fat of the person concerned causing problems over a long period.
- The same as above for oil, coal and wood.
The cost of this research would be far more than we could afford but surely the gas and oil industry must have undertaken such research? If not, why not? Surely if they are selling their products to the public they should know what is in it and whether if used correctly or incorrectly, there are any dangers to the public other than CO? We need this research to be of the highest quality and extremely independent. We have already asked Lord McKenzie (Government Minister responsible for the Health and Safety Executive, which covers gas) to undertake this research and also drawn the attention of various Select Committees to this need. Please note that there may be a risk to those inside from these toxins and toxins when the fumes are not exiting to outside air. However, there is also a possible risk of planet poisoning rather than global warming but we suspect that it is those indoors, who are suffering the highest levels.
We suspect that many people whom GPs report as ‘TAT’ (Tired All the Time) are in fact suffering from poisoning caused by these toxins and/or Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). For blood tests for these toxins see http://www.co-gassafety.co.uk/prevention.html and click on ‘Blood tests’ on the right hand side. These blood tests can be done weeks or months later, unlike tests for CO. It is also possible to have urine tests both before and after a provoker has been taken. However, it would still be necessary to prove on a balance of probabilities (for a civil claim) that these toxins, if found in the blood, came from the fuel and appliance concerned. However, if the research really has not been done by the fuel suppliers, surely urgent research on the other toxins emitted by appliances should be undertaken?
Please note that the charity has obtained a quotation for initial research at the cost of £40,000 from BRE. This is a very small sum for a research project, especially one that could have such a huge impact on the health of the nation..
To prevent deaths and injuries from CO and other fuel toxins.
- All appliances powered by any fuel that burns should be serviced according to manufacturer’s instructions – usually once a year. Make sure that the person doing this work is properly qualified. Please check and remember it’s your money and your life. With gas the installer must be Gas Safe Registered).
- Make sure all chimneys and flues are regularly swept and checked.
- Ensure adequate ventilation and don’t block ventilation grilles.
- As an extra safeguard against CO, buy a CO alarm to European Standards. This will cost around £20 in most good DIY stores and some supermarkets.
In an emergency, ring the Gas Emergency Service line on 0800111999 but they will only turn off your appliance or your gas. Seek immediate medical help and insist on a CO test and ask for the result in writing. Ordinary blood is adequate for this – there is NO NEED for arterial blood.
Further reading and resources
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