SHORT REPORT

Effects on health of prolonged exposure to low concentrations of carbon monoxide

C L Townsend, R L Maynard

Department of Health, London, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Prof. R L Maynard, Department of Health, Room 661C, Skipton House, 80 London Road, London SE1 6LH, UK;
robert.maynard@doh.gsi.gov.uk

Accepted 10 April 2002

Keywords: carbon monoxide; health

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The effects on health of prolonged but low level exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) are unclear. Studies of carbon monoxide exposure focus mainly on short term effects in experimental settings, or on long term effects in cases of accidental poisoning. Exposures in long term case studies are often of unknown levels and duration. Patients are sometimes exposed to short periods of acute intoxication, in addition to the low level, chronic exposure; thus the difficulty in determining which type of exposure is responsible for any subsequent health problems. Anecdotal evidence suggests that chronic exposure to CO may produce mild neurological effects. Although there are as yet no conclusive studies showing such a correlation, the evidence in its favour is accumulating.

The effects of severe exposure to carbon monoxide are well understood. The very effective competition of carbon monoxide with oxygen for binding sites on haemoglobin with the subsequent left shift of . . . [Full text of this article]

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