Abstract
The biological significance of fluctuating concentrations is not well understood. Fluctuation patterns can be approximated as a Fourier series of sine waves of different amplitudes, periods, and phases. A theoretical equation was developed for relating carboxyhemoglobin levels in blood to sine wave exposure patterns of carbon monoxide. It was experimentally validated for rabbits exposed to 50-350 ppm of CO in sine waves of periods from 37 to 280 min. Higher frequency carbon monoxide concentration fluctuations were more highly attenuated in the blood in accordance with the equation. The response may be viewed in a new perspective as a modification of the original fluctuation pattern by the transmittance of the biological window. A simplified method of evaluating biologically effective concentrations for different carbon monoxide fluctuation patterns is proposed.
Published Version
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