Safe Tolerability Limits for Carbon Monoxide? A Review of the Clinical and Fire Engineering Implications of a Single, Acute, Sub-Lethal Exposure

Abstract

Carbon monoxide (CO) is the dominant gas in fire smoke toxic ity. In many cases, according to Babrauskas [1], carbon monoxide, carbon diox ide and the depletion of oxygen are the only toxic agents of consequence. The problems of CO have been studied [2] at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the views of Babrauskas would be based on such work. While acknowledging this view, this paper concentrates on the suggested dominant role of carbon monoxide. The views expressed recognise that this is not a novel problem. Rather, the paper attempts to bring together two, quite sep arate, discussions of the medical and fire science literature.