Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas that is produced from the incomplete combustion of carbon-based materials. These materials include natural gas, wood, coal, gasoline, and other forms of fossil fuel. Its production occurs regularly in chimneys, vehicle exhaust pipes, electricity generator sets, and other pieces of machinery that run on fossil fuels.
Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. When a significant amount of this gas is released, it can bind to the red blood cells of an individual. This will cause several harmful effects, which is one of the reasons carbon monoxide detectors have become so popular in recent years.