Fatalities from carbon monoxide toxins have seen a publicity upswing over the years, and local experts are warning against the dangers caused by faulty household appliances and automobile emissions.

"At higher levels [carbon monoxide] can be fatal after 15 minutes," said Holly Jones, program coordinator for the Utah Safety Council. "[Carbon monoxide] is something you can't detect, smell, see or taste."

Carbon monoxide, a lethal gas typically distinguished by its odorless and tasteless characteristics, was responsible for killing a man in a college dormitory and sickening more than 100 teens and adults at Virginia's Roanoke College Friday (July 14, 2006).

CO exposure remains the leading cause of accidental poison-related deaths in the nation, according to the Journal of American Academy of Physician Assistants. It is also accountable for more global poison-related deaths than any other substance.

Nearly 300 deaths every year are caused by CO poisoning, said Craig Cutright, executive director of the Salt Lake City American Lung Association.

"We get more of these stories and problems in the wintertime because people are burning their furnaces or fireplaces, and that is a complete burning of carbon or fuel," Cutright said. "More cases occur in the winter because carbon monoxide is a byproduct of a furnace or a fireplace that doesn't burn properly."

Some of the most common sources of carbon monoxide toxins are automobile exhaust, cigarette smoke and fuel-burning appliances, according to JAAPA. Cutright added gas appliances and charcoal grills also contain high levels of carbon monoxide.

While automobiles do emit CO into the air, Cutright said the most deadly exposure comes from being in confined spaces or areas that lack proper ventilation.

"If a car was [running] in the garage for example, it would be deadly," Cutright said. "I would think that automobiles would emit more [carbon monoxide] than a little furnace, but the problems that occur come from closed shelters."

There are many ways locals can protect against CO exposure, including obtaining a CO detector and avoiding closed spaces when operating a vehicle.

Proper safeguarding methods are implemented by BYU to protect its students who live in the dorms and on-campus housing.

"We do have a regular and thorough maintenance program for our heating and air conditioning system in the dorms for on-campus housing," said Carri Jenkins, BYU spokeswoman. "We regularly change the filters in the rooms, and we have not had any reported problems on campus."

Jenkins said the university is aware of CO problems but has had regular and thorough maintenance checkups before these problems even occurred.

Jones explained people could be exposed to CO from different sources, including generators, boats, any type of fuel-burning appliance, electrical heaters, toasters and water heaters.

The side effects of CO are dizziness, fatigue, headaches, nausea and irregular breathing, Jones said.

"Death would be the worst-case scenario, but most people who have CO poisoning obviously have to be treated at a hospital," Jones said. "You can buy [a carbon monoxide detector] usually at any Home Depot or Wal-Mart ... that would be the best way because carbon monoxide is something you can't smell or taste and you know don't know it's there until someone faints or goes down."

While Jones agreed CO exposure can be a problem and happens a lot, she said it isn't as common as one might think. She said the first thing to do if CO is detected is to get out of your home or apartment.

"If [a carbon monoxide leak] was something you noticed right away, call dispatch - 911 - and they will have someone come out and fix it," she said.