Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2025
06:52
Lab-Scale Model to Evaluate Odor and Gas Concentrations Emitted by Deep Bedded Pack Manure
Published on: July 19, 2018
6.4K
Carbon Monoxide Levels Produced by Propane/Isobutane Canister Stoves inside a Tent
Jeffrey T Thurman1, Rebecca Leavitt1, James T Buchanan1
1University of Louisville, Department of Emergency Medicine, Louisville, KY.
Wilderness & Environmental Medicine
|October 10, 2023
Summary
Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning from camp stoves is a serious risk. Stoves using isobutane/propane fuel can emit dangerous CO levels in enclosed spaces, posing a significant safety hazard.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Occupational Safety
- Combustion Science
Background:
- Improper use of camp stoves in enclosed spaces has led to fatalities from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
- Previous research has primarily examined CO output from stoves using white gas, unleaded gas, or kerosene.
- Stoves fueled by isobutane/propane mixtures have not been extensively studied regarding their CO emissions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the carbon monoxide (CO) output of camp stoves that utilize isobutane/propane fuel mixtures.
- To determine if these stoves produce unsafe levels of CO when used in enclosed environments.
- To compare the CO emissions between different isobutane/propane stove models.
Main Methods:
- Three different camp stoves using isobutane/propane fuel were tested.
- Stoves were operated inside a 3-season tent to heat a pot of water under controlled conditions.
- Carbon monoxide (CO) levels were measured in parts per million (ppm) at 1-minute intervals for 15 minutes using a RAE Systems gas monitor.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant increase in CO levels over time was observed (F(14, 168)=7.6, P<0.001).
- Significant differences in CO levels were found between the stove types (F(2, 12)=8.6, P=0.005).
- Stove A produced significantly higher average CO levels compared to Stove B and Stove C (P=0.043 and P=0.004, respectively).
Conclusions:
- Camp stoves utilizing isobutane/propane fuel can generate hazardous carbon monoxide (CO) levels.
- These stoves should not be operated within enclosed spaces due to the risk of CO poisoning.
- Findings highlight the need for increased awareness and caution when using portable stoves in confined areas.
More Related Videos
09:33Visualizing Field Data Collection Procedures of Exposure and Biomarker Assessments for the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network Trial in India
Published on: December 23, 2022
2.3K
10:19Synthesis and Testing of Supported Pt-Cu Solid Solution Nanoparticle Catalysts for Propane Dehydrogenation
Published on: July 18, 2017
12.0K
Related Concept Videos
02:14Combustion Energy: A Measure of Stability in Alkanes and Cycloalkanes
6.4K
The low reactivity in alkanes can be attributed to the non-polar nature of C–C and C–H σ bonds. Alkanes, therefore, were initially termed as “paraffins,” derived from the Latin words: parum, meaning “too little,” and affinis, meaning “affinity.”
Alkanes undergo combustion in the presence of excess oxygen and high-temperature conditions to give carbon dioxide and water. A combustion reaction is the energy source in natural gas, liquified...
Alkanes undergo combustion in the presence of excess oxygen and high-temperature conditions to give carbon dioxide and water. A combustion reaction is the energy source in natural gas, liquified...
6.4K
01:02Flame Photometry: Overview
642
Flame photometry, also known as flame emission spectrometry, is a technique used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of elements present in a sample using a flame as the source of excitation energy. The concept of flame photometry was realized in the early 1860s by Kirchhoff and Bunsen, who discovered that specific elements emit characteristic radiation when excited in flames. The first instrument developed for this purpose was used to measure sodium (Na) in plant ash using a Bunsen...
642
02:18Conformations of Ethane and Propane
14.0K
In an organic molecule, free rotation about the carbon-carbon single bond results in energetically different conformers of the molecule. Due to this rotation, called the internal rotation, ethane has two major conformations — staggered and eclipsed.
Staggered conformation is a low energy and more stable conformation with the C-H bonds on the front carbon placed at 60°dihedral angles relative to the C-H bonds on the back carbon, leading to a reduced torsional strain. In staggered...
Staggered conformation is a low energy and more stable conformation with the C-H bonds on the front carbon placed at 60°dihedral angles relative to the C-H bonds on the back carbon, leading to a reduced torsional strain. In staggered...
14.0K
02:29Conformations of Cycloalkanes
11.8K
Adolf von Baeyer attempted to explain the instabilities of small and large cycloalkane rings using the concept of angle strain — the strain caused by the deviation of bond angles from the ideal 109.5° tetrahedral value for sp3 hybridized carbons. However, while cyclopropane and cyclobutane are strained, as expected from their highly compressed bond angles, cyclopentane is more strained than predicted, and cyclohexane is virtually strain-free. Hence, Baeyer’s theory that...
11.8K
01:17Assessment of Diffusion and Perfusion
992
Understanding and evaluating diffusion and perfusion is critical in assessing a patient's respiratory and circulatory health. These processes play key roles in maintaining the body's internal environment, ensuring that tissues receive adequate oxygen while waste products are efficiently removed.
The Role of Diffusion in Respiration
Diffusion is the process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. In the respiratory system, this...
The Role of Diffusion in Respiration
Diffusion is the process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. In the respiratory system, this...
992
02:27Limiting Reactant
59.1K
The relative amounts of reactants and products represented in a balanced chemical equation are often referred to as stoichiometric amounts. However, in reality, the reactants are not always present in the stoichiometric amounts indicated by the balanced equation.
59.1K