Why can you die in stove-heated houses? What’s going on in the body?

When various organic compounds are burned, carbon monoxide is released in addition to carbon dioxide. It is extremely poisonous, and its main danger lies in the fact that it cannot be recognized without instruments, because it is odorless and colorless and mixes instantly with air.

If the chimney gets clogged or the damper is closed, the ventilation of the room will be disrupted, and carbon monoxide will accumulate in it, which can lead to burnout if clean air is not provided in time.

Carbon monoxide is able to bind to hemoglobin (thus forming carboxyhemoglobin), which leads to oxygen starvation and further death. Therefore, with this method of heating, ventilation must be carefully monitored.