Chapter 13 Physical fitness and carbon monoxide

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Physical fitness and carbon monoxide: Carbon Monoxide

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"Mainstream cigarette smoke has carbon monoxide present at concentrations similar

to that found in automobile exhaust. It is the dilution of the smoke with room air and the

intermittent nature of smoke inhalation that prevents cigarette smoke from being

immediately lethal."

Clinics in Chest Medicine, December 1991, p. 633 (David Burns, M.D.)

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The average smoker has exhaled carbon monoxide of 33 parts per million, which

equates to a 5.5% percentage of carboxyhemoglobin. A heavy smoker of has a

carboxyhemoglobin level of 8% and exhaled CO of 48 ppm.

Smokerlyzer brochure, Bedfort Scientific, UK and Journal of Family Practice,

June 1992, p. 690

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Red blood cells have a 210 to 250 times greater affinity for carbon monoxide (CO)

than for oxygen, and fetal hemoglobin binds to CO with an even greater affinity.

Exhaled CO correlates with carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) blood levels, and a one pack

per day smoker has a reading of 25 to 35 parts per million. A 59ppm CO level equals

a 10% COHb, or a 10% loss of oxygen-carrying capacity, which may reduce mental

awareness and slow reaction time.

American Society of Addiction Medicine, Atlanta, November 12, 1993 (L. Nett) and

Reader's Digest, March 1995, p. 129

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When people smoke normally, their carbon monoxide levels are lowest in the morning

and level off at their highest values by midday. The typical one-pack-per-day smoker

achieves levels in expired air averaging between 25 and 35 parts per million.

However, even these "average" smokers may hit short-term levels of greater than 100

parts per million. Firefighters are now routinely checked with portable CO analyzing

machines while combating fires. If their levels exceed 150 parts per million they may

be relieved and given oxygen, since even these generally healthy people run a risk of

heart attacks.

Quote from Nicotine, p. 34

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Thursday, July 06, 2000

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