As many as 1.2 million adults in Ireland could be at risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, new research has found.

According to the findings, 1.2 million people are currently living in houses without CO alarms, including 100,000 people over the age of 65 who live alone.

Furthermore, almost half of these people do not even know where to purchase a CO alarm.

CO is a poisonous gas, however it is colourless and odourless. It can be produced when any fossil fuel is burned, including gas, oil peat, turf, coal and petrol. Exposure to CO can cause illness and even death. Death can occur in as little as three minutes.

Around six people die every year in Ireland as a result of CO poisoning. Symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, chest pains, nausea or general lethargy.

The research was released ahead of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week, which runs from September 21-27. It revealed that just 38% of respondents had an audible CO alarm in their home and among these, just 31% had checked it in the past month.

Among those who did not have an alarm, 43% did not know where to buy one. This figure rose to 60% among people under the age of 35.

Meanwhile, almost 40% of people admitted that they had not had their boiler serviced in at least two years and 45% had not had their fuel burning appliances, such as gas heaters and solid fuel stoves, serviced in at least two years.

Having a properly functioning boiler or fuel burning appliance is one of the main ways of preventing CO poisoning. These should be serviced at least once a year by a registered service technician.

Speaking at the launch of the awareness week, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Alex White, noted that as it is now autumn, ‘people will be switching on boilers that haven't operated for six months, lighting fires and closing windows - all things which potentially increase risk'.

"This colourless and odourless gas is highly dangerous and I would urge people to take the simple preventative actions and install an audible alarm so they can rest assured knowing that they and their families are protected," he said.

This is the fourth annual Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week. For more information, click here