Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless and odorless gas that is the byproduct of incomplete combustion of any carbon-containing material
> Sources of CO include inadequate ventilation of heating sources, automobile exhaust, faulty furnaces, exposure to methylene chloride (an industrial solvent often used for cleaning and as paint thinner), as well as cigarette smoke and smoke from fires.
> Exposure to CO raises levels of circulating carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) in the blood.
Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) is a stable complex of carbon monoxide that forms in red blood cells when carbon monoxide is inhaled. COHb should be measured if carbon monoxide or methylene chloride poisoning is suspected. COHb is also useful in monitoring the treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Exposure to carbon monoxide impedes the blood's ability to carry oxygen to body tissues and vital organs. When carbon monoxide is inhaled, it combines with hemoglobin (an iron-protein component of red blood cells), producing carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), which greatly diminishes hemoglobin's oxygen-carrying capacity.
Carbon monoxide is both used as a raw material and produced by certain industrial processes. It
can be produced as a waste product by many types of equipment and activities at the same time.
Carbon monoxide is present in almost every workplace. The challenge is to recognize, evaluate
and control sources of emission. The following are the major industrial uses of carbon monoxide:
●● production of powdered metals of high purity
●● production of special steels
●● production of reducing oxides
●● powder metallurgy for molding
●● research and teaching
Correlations were found between on the one hand environmental temperature, relative humidity of the air and number of farmers’ fires, and on the other hand levels of carbon monoxide exhaled and carboxyhemoglobin (p < 0.05).There was a correlation between heart rate and changes in environmental temperature, time of exposure to the sun and relative humidity (p < 0.05).
In elderly people, environmental factors influence levels of exhaled carbon monoxide, carboxyhemoglobin and heart rate. There is thus a need for these to be monitored during exercise. The use of a carbon monoxide monitor to evaluate exposure to pollutants is suggested.