Carbon Monoxide In Ambient Air Research Articles

Symptoms and functional limitations related to respiratory health and carbon monoxide poisoning in Tanzania: a cross sectional study

BackgroundThe burden of chronic respiratory symptoms and respiratory functional limitations is underestimated in Africa. Few data are available on carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in sub-Saharan Africa and existing data is derived from CO in ambient air, but not from biomarkers in the blood.MethodsData from the Tanzanian Lung Health study, a cross-sectional study on lung health among outpatients and visitors to an urban as well as a rural hospital in Tanzania, was analyzed to describe respiratory symptoms and functional limitations. Saturation of peripheral blood with carbon monoxide (SpCO) was measured transcutaneously and non-invasively in participants using a modified pulse oxymeter indicative of CO poisoning. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed.ResultsNine hundred and ninety-seven participants were included in the analysis, the median age of participants was 46 years (49% male). 38% of participants reported some degree of chronic shortness of breath and 26% felt limited in their daily activities or at work by this symptom. The median SpCO was 7% (IQR 4–13, range 2–31%) among all participants without active smoking status (N = 808). Participants cooking with gas or electricity had the lowest SpCO (median 5%), followed by participants cooking with charcoal (median 7%). Cooking with wood, particularly using a stove, resulted in highest SpCO (median 11.5%). Participants from households where cooking takes place in a separate room had the lowest SpCO as compared to cooking outside or cooking in a shared room inside (6% vs. 9% vs.10.5%, p < 0.01). Sex or the activity of cooking itself was not associated with a difference in SpCO. Multivariate analysis confirmed cooking in a separate room (as compared to cooking outside) and living in a rural vs. urban setting as protective factors against high SpCO.ConclusionThe findings demonstrate a high burden of chronic respiratory symptoms which also cause socioeconomic impact. High levels of SpCO indicate a relevant burden of carbon monoxide poisoning in the local population. The level of CO in the blood is more dependent on shared exposure to sources of CO with the type of housing and type of cooking fuel as most relevant factors, and less on person-individual risk factors or activities.

Toxicity potential of automobile carbon monoxide emission along a majour highway in Sango-Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

This study investigated the toxicity potential of carbon monoxide along a major highway in Sango-Ota, an emerging city, in Nigeria. Ambient air carbon monoxide was monitored and measured at ten different locations using the GM8805 benetech carbon monoxide monitor. Coca-Cola junction was selected as the control location for this study. The 1-hr averaging period measured for carbon monoxide concentrations within the selected locations ranged between 25.2 ppm and 29.3 ppm while at the control point, it was measured to be 8 ppm. The extrapolated 8-hr averaging period for carbon monoxide concentration ranged between 14.076 ppm and 16.366 ppm with the concentration at the control point being at 4.4688 ppm. The extrapolated 24-hr averaging period for carbon monoxide concentration ranged between 10.357 ppm and 12.042 ppm with the concentration at the control point being 3.288 ppm. An assessment of toxicity potential of these locations based on Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA), United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and World Health Organization (WHO) statutory limits were all above unity (one) except at the control location and this poses as a threat to human lives. These values showed unhealthy air conditions at these regions of the emerging city. This study establishes that traffic congestions contribute significantly to the ambient air thereby reducing its quality thus calls for the attention of regulatory bodies to rise to protection of commuters and businessmen along the major highways in emerging cities in Nigeria.

Temporospatial variations and Spearman correlation analysis of ozone concentrations to nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matters and carbon monoxide in ambient air, China

Ozone has been an important pollutant in China since 2013. The increasing number of days with over-standard ozone (O3) has been observed in many cities. In this study, what we mainly focus on are shown as follows: sampling of ambient air in 365 days in 2017 from 338 main cities; comparing concentration levels of ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matters and carbon monoxide in ambient air; investigating air quality conditions related to monthly variations of ozone, in this study, five areas with relatively higher O3-8 h over-standard days were identified and illustrated. An inverted “V” shape curve in North and a multiple “M” shape curve in South were identified in ozone monthly changes. Furthermore, possible reasons for spatial and temporal distribution were discussed. Spearman correlation analyses of ozone to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matters (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO) in every chosen city were performed, and the distribution patterns were illustrated in maps. The results revealed that ozone concentrations in most north cities have negative correlations with concentrations of other pollutants in 2017, while some cities in south appeared positive correlations. As ozone pollution is not easily monitored by ordinary people without equipment, people in the cities where ozone concentrations were significantly related to PM or other pollutants, could primarily predict ozone pollution and take protective actions.

Carbon monoxide prevents hypertension and proteinuria in an adenovirus sFlt-1 preeclampsia-like mouse model.

Preeclampsia (PE) remains a leading cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Smoking cigarettes is associated with a decreased incidence of PE. Based on this observation and previous work, we hypothesize that women who smoke have a lower risk of developing PE because of elevated levels of carbon monoxide (CO) in their blood. The objective of this study was to determine if low-dose CO in ambient air could attenuate the late pregnancy hypertension (HTN) and proteinuria in the Adenovirus (Ad) sFlt-1 PE-like mouse model. Continuous low-dose CO treatment (250 ppm) was started on E10.5 and maintained until E17.5. Compared to control and Ad empty vector, AdsFlt-1 mice displayed late- gestation HTN (E14.5–17.5) (P<0.05), proteinuria (P<0.05) and reduced Bowman's space which were all prevented with CO treatment. Use of the Ad (with/without sFlt-1) or CO had no effect (p>0.05) on litter size, fetal resorption numbers and fetal or placental weights. This study shows that treatment with CO can prevent HTN and proteinuria in a mouse model of PE. It provides a possible mechanism for the reduced incidence of PE in smoking women, and supports the possibility of using CO as a future treatment for PE.

Early End-Tidal Carbon Monoxide Levels, Patency of the Ductus Arteriosus and Regional Cerebral Oxygenation in Preterm Infants

Background: Carbon monoxide (CO), a relaxant regulator of muscle tone and marker of oxidative stress and inflammation, can be measured in exhaled air by determination of end-tidal CO corrected for CO in ambient air (ETCOc). Objective: Increased endogenous production of CO may influence patency of the ductus arteriosus, cerebral perfusion and, subsequently, cerebral oxygenation. The aim was to study the relation between early ETCOc levels, hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) and cerebral oxygenation (rScO₂) in preterm infants <32 weeks' gestational age and determine predictive values of ETCOc for hsPDA. Methods: ETCOc was measured in 91 infants within the first 24 h after birth. A hsPDA was diagnosed according to echocardiographic indices. In 78/91 infants, rScO₂ was monitored with near-infrared spectroscopy to assess cerebral oxygenation. Results: ETCOc values were significantly higher in infants who subsequently developed hsPDA (2.3 ± 0.7 ppm) vs. no-hsPDA (1.7 ± 0.6 ppm), p < 0.001. With a cut-off value of 2.5 ppm, positive and negative predictive values of ETCOc for hsPDA were 55 and 88%, respectively. rScO₂ values were not different between the two groups (64 ± 1 vs. 65 ± 3%, NS). Conclusions: The higher ETCOc values in hsPDA infants early after birth reflect the early relaxant state of ductal muscular tone. ETCOc <2.5 ppm within 24 h after birth may predict the subsequent absence of hsPDA. ETCOc showed no correlation with cerebral oxygenation in both groups.

Exposure to Carbon Monoxide for Patients and Providers in an Urban Emergency Medical Service

Background. Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning poses danger to both patients and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, as its symptoms are nonspecific and EMS is currently not equipped to detect CO in ambient air. Objective. We aimed to assess the degree of non–fire-related CO exposure at the high-volume EMS system of a city with 2 million inhabitants. Methods. The EMS system was equipped with handheld CO detectors (Dräger Pac 3500), which were added to EMS standard backpacks and had to be carried to the patient at all times. During a period of one year, all alarms by those devices were recorded, sources of CO were confirmed by the fire department, and hospital follow-up was conducted for both patients and exposed EMS staff. Results. During the study period, there were 40 alarms, including two false alarms. Alarms occurred during the whole year, with a peak during the winter months. The median ambient CO concentration was 167 parts per million; gas heating systems were the main source of CO. One hundred ten patients and 108 EMS personnel were exposed. One hundred fifteen persons, including 22 EMS staff, had to be hospitalized, which represents one out of 1,000 total EMS patients. Conclusions. Carbon monoxide poisoning was found to be a significant matter for a high-volume EMS system. Handheld CO detectors helped in identifying those cases. Key words: carbon monoxide; emergency care, prehospital; equipment and supplies; poisoning

Onboard measurement system of atmospheric carbon monoxide in the Pacific by voluntary observing ships

Abstract. Long-term monitoring of carbon monoxide (CO) mixing ratios in the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean is being carried out on commercial cargo vessels participating in the National Institute for Environmental Studies Voluntary Observing Ships program. The program provides a regular platform for measurement of atmospheric CO along four cruise routes: from Japan to Oceania, the United States, Canada, and Southeast Asia. Flask samples are collected during every cruise for subsequent analysis in the laboratory, and in 2005, continuous shipboard CO measurements were initiated on three of the routes. Here, we describe the system we developed for onboard measurement of CO mixing ratios with a commercially available gas filter correlation CO analyzer. The fully automated system measures CO in ambient air, and the detector sensitivity and background signals are calibrated by referencing the measurements to a CO-in-air standard gas (~1 ppmv) and to CO-free air scrubbed with a catalyst, respectively. We examined the artificial production of CO in the high-pressure working gas standards during storage by referencing the measurements to CO standard gases maintained as our primary scale before and after use on the ships. The onboard performance of the continuous CO measurement system was evaluated by comparing its data with data from laboratory analyses of flask samples using gas chromatography with a reduction gas detector. The reasonably good consistency between the two independent measurement methods demonstrated the good performance of both methods over the course of 3–5 years. The continuous measurement system was more useful than the flask sampling method for regionally polluted air masses, which were often encountered on Southeast Asian cruises.

Differential inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory complexes by inhalation of combustion smoke and carbon monoxide, in vivo, in the rat brain

Combustion smoke contains gases and particulates, which act via hypoxia and cytotoxicity producing mechanisms to injure cells and tissues. While carbon monoxide (CO) is the major toxicant in smoke, its toxicity is exacerbated in the presence of other compounds. Here, we examined modulations of mitochondrial and cytosolic energy metabolism by inhalation of combustion smoke versus CO, in vivo, in the rat brain. Measurements revealed reduced activities of respiratory chain (RC) complexes, with greater inhibition by smoke than equivalent CO in ambient air. In the case of RC complex IV, inhibition by CO and smoke was similar—suggesting that complex IV inhibition is primarily by the action of CO. In contrast, inhibition of complexes I and III was greater by smoke. Increases in cytosolic lactate dehydrogenase and pyruvate kinase activities accompanied inhibition of RC complexes, likely reflecting compensatory increases in cytosolic energy production. Together, the data provide new insights into the mechanisms of smoke inhalation-induced perturbations of brain energetics, which impact neuronal function and contribute to the development of neuropathologies in survivors of exposures to CO and combustion smoke.

Spatial distribution of atmospheric carbon monoxide over Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea: Measurements during pre-monsoon period of 2006

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) conducted the ‘Integrated Campaign for Aerosols, gases and Radiation Budget (ICARB)’ for a two-month pre-monsoon period in 2006 with the ocean segment covering Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. During this campaign, carbon monoxide (CO) was continuously monitored using a non-dispersive IR analyser. Quantifying CO in ambient air is vital in determining the air quality of a region. Being toxic, CO is a criteria pollutant, but it is a weak green house gas. Globally, very few measurements exist over marine atmospheres to study its temporal pattern; particularly in situ CO measurements are few over the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea for comparison. Present measurements indicate: (i) predominant single peak in the diurnal pattern of CO over the marine atmosphere in contrast to the double peak over the continent, (ii) the mean diurnal CO over the marine atmosphere showing an increasing trend towards evening hours, (iii) the amplitude of the AN peaks over the marine atmosphere was ∼ 100 ppbv, while at a remote island site in the Indian Ocean it was ∼ 5 ppbv and (iv) high CO values were observed close to continent and the long range transport by wind also caused CO highs.

Carbon monoxide intoxication: An updated review

Carbon monoxide (CO), a highly toxic gas produced by incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons, is a relatively common cause of human injury. Human toxicity is often overlooked because CO is tasteless and odorless and its clinical symptoms and signs are non specific. The brain and the heart may be severely affected after CO exposure with carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels exceeding 20%. Damage occurs because the affinity of hemoglobin for CO is 210 times higher than for O(2). Hypoxic brain damage predominates in the cerebral cortex, cerebral white matter and basal ganglia, especially in the globus pallidus. Diagnosis requires clinical acumen and a high index of suspicion, combined with epidemiological data, clinical examination, analysis of ambient air CO and patient COHb levels; also required are cardiology evaluation including ECG as well as neurological evaluation including brain imaging (CT and/or MRI, MR spectroscopy), and neuropsychological testing. Although immediate O(2) breathing is sometimes an adequate treatment, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) is favored. Subsequently, only symptomatic therapy is available for the long-term sequelae of CO poisoning.

(TA)n UGT 1A1 Promoter Polymorphism: A Crucial Factor in the Pathophysiology of Jaundice in G-6-PD Deficient Neonates

Increased heme catabolism has been reported in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD)-normal neonates who were also homozygous for (TA)7/(TA)7 (UGT1A1*28) uridine diphosphoglucuronate-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT) promoter polymorphism (Gilbert syndrome). As G-6-PD deficiency is associated with increased hemolysis, we hypothesized that in G-6-PD-deficient neonates who also have the (TA)7/(TA)7 UGT promoter genotype, steady-state hemolysis would be even further increased. Male G-6-PD-deficient neonates were sampled for plasma total bilirubin (PTB), blood carboxyhemoglobin corrected for inhaled carbon monoxide in ambient air (COHbc) (an index of heme catabolism), and UGT (TA)n promoter genotype determination and compared with previously published G-6-PD-normal neonates. Although COHbc values were higher in the G-6-PD-deficient than in the G-6-PD-normal cohorts (0.97 +/- 0.32% of total Hb (tHb) versus 0.76 +/- 0.19% of tHb, p < 0.001), PTB values were similar (9.2 +/- 3.4 mg/dL versus 8.9 +/- 3.0 mg/dL, respectively, p = 0.3). Within the G-6-PD-deficient group, although COHbc values were alike between the three UGT promoter genotypes, PTB was higher in the (TA)7/(TA)7 homozygotes (11.1 +/- 4.0 mg/dL) compared with (TA)6/(TA)7 heterozygotes (9.1 +/- 3.2 mg/dL, p = 0.03) and wild-type (TA)6/(TA)6 homozygotes (8.8 +/- 3.4 mg/dL, p = 0.02). In the steady state, similar rates of hemolysis, but increased PTB in the G-6-PD- deficient, (TA)7/(TA)7 homozygotes, imply that (TA)7/(TA)7, homozygosity is central to increased PTB.

Evaluation of standards and methods for continuous measurements of carbon monoxide at ground-based sites in Asia

An international exercise to directly assess the consistency of standards and methods for measuring carbon monoxide (CO) was conducted as part of the East Asian Regional Experiment 2005 (EAREX 2005) in the framework of the Atmospheric Brown Clouds (ABC) project. Four groups representing Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan made comparisons at the Gosan super-site on Jeju Island, Korea, in March 2005, by setting up individual instruments with gas standards which are commonly used in ground-based monitoring programs in Asia. Intensive comparisons between two Japanese groups showed that a non-dispersive infrared absorption (NDIR) instrument agreed fairly well with a gas chromatograph / reduction gas detector (GC/RGD) with 1-h time resolution, confirming that NDIR methods are useful for monitoring, in particular, large temporal variations of CO in ambient air. Although international comparison of ambient measurements by NDIR indicated general agreement, comparison of gas standards revealed difficulties in preparing accurate and stable standard gases for monitoring CO at ambient levels.

Exposure to carbon monoxide during indoor karting

Karting is a recreational activity of increasing popularity and it is often practiced indoors leading to build up of toxic gases in ambient air. This study was realised to verify the level of exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) in ten male racers (Age: 15 to 49 years old) during a 45-min race. The alveolar concentration of CO (alvCO) for each participant was measured before and after the race. The ambient CO level was determined continuously from the start to the end of the race with two detectors. Mean ambient air CO concentration was 41 ppm and the average increase of alvCO for the ten subjects was 16.2 ppm corresponding to about 3% COHb. Based on these results and on the Coburn model, a reference limit of 25 ppm was suggested for a 1 h exposure during indoor karting. At the request of the public health authorities, some modifications were made to the karts, to the CO monitoring surveillance system and to the ventilation system of the building. CO concentrations were monitored thereafter. The guideline of 25 ppm for 60 min was always respected.

Personal carbon monoxide exposures of preschool children in Helsinki, Finland—comparison to ambient air concentrations

The associations of personal carbon monoxide (CO) exposures with ambient air CO concentrations measured at fixed monitoring sites, were studied among 194 children aged 3–6 yr in four downtown and four suburban day-care centers in Helsinki, Finland. Each child carried a personal CO exposure monitor between 1 and 4 times for a time period of between 20 and 24 h. CO concentrations at two fixed monitoring sites were measured simultaneously. The CO concentrations measured at the fixed monitoring sites were usually lower (mean maximum 8-h concentration: 0.9 and 2.6 mg m −3) than the personal CO exposure concentrations (mean maximum 8-h concentration: 3.3 mg m −3). The fixed site CO concentrations were poor predictors of the personal CO exposure concentrations. However, the correlations between the personal CO exposure and the fixed monitoring site CO concentrations increased (−0.03–−0.12 to 0.13–0.16) with increasing averaging times from 1 to 8 h. Also, the fixed monitoring site CO concentrations explained the mean daily or weekly personal CO exposures of a group of simultaneously measured children better than individual exposure CO concentrations. This study suggests that the short-term CO personal exposure of children cannot be meaningfully assessed using fixed monitoring sites.

A rapid spectrophotometric method for the determination of carbon monoxide in ambient air

A sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of carbon monoxide is described, based on the reduction of palladium(II) by carbon monoxide. The resulting elemental palladium is reacted with iodate in acidic medium in the presence of chloride, to produce an ICl − n species that is readily extracted as an ion-pair with Pyronine-G into benzene. Measurement of the absorbance of the extract at 535 nm permits the determination of carbon monoxide down to 1 μl/l. in air. The effect of interfering gases is discussed. The method is suitable for determination of carbon monoxide in motor vehicle exhaust gases and ambient air.

Statistical models for carbon monoxide in El Paso, Texas

This study was conducted to develop a statistical model that would enable decision‐makers, planners, and the general public to use existing large quantities of ambient air carbon monoxide (CO) data in establishing an effective air quality management program for El Paso, Texas. Two models, a General Linear Model (GLM) and a 20‐term Quadratic Model (QM) were produced. Both models predict well for periods of up to two years. The models enable the user not only to predict ambient air CO levels for specified time periods, but also provide a mechanism whereby environmental factors such as meteorological variables and area emissions may be evaluated for magnitude of impact on ambient air CO levels. The use of the definition of scenario conditions, the “conditioning” process, also enables the user to assess the influences of non‐scalar variables such as wind direction and geographical location on ambient air CO levels. The basic framework for model development, calibration, and validation, plus the evaluation of ...

Carbon monoxide levels in El Paso, texas: 1975–1980

This study was performed to develop a methodology for effectively utilizing large amounts of data collected in ambient air monitoring in the decision‐making processes involved in air quality management. Using statistical analysis techniques, the historical profiles and relationships for carbon monoxide (CO), traffic and meteorological parameters in El Paso, Texas, were examined for 1975–1980. Data from the Texas Air Control Board (TACB), the Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation (TDH), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) were used. The quantity and quality of data available for use in future studies of cause‐effect relationships and ambient air statistical modeling was also determined. Distinct, persistent patterns in the data were observed plus a positive trend (i.e. increases) over time in ambient air CO levels.

Detection of carbon monoxide in ambient air with a piezoelectric crystal

Carbon monoxide is first reacted with mercuric oxide at 210 C to produce mercury vapour. The mercury vapour liberated is then adsorbed on the gold electrode of the piezoelectric crystal, thereby increasing the mass on the crystal and decreasing its frequency of vibration. The change of frequency is proportional to the amount of mercury present and is indicative of the carbon monoxide content of the air. Reversibility can be achieved by thermal desorption. By use of a reference stream, the background due to the thermal decomposition of mercuric oxide is compensated. The effect of moisture and interferences from other reducing gases can be eliminated by use of a precolumn. The detector is simple, inexpensive, and portable. Concentrations in the part-per-million and part-per-billion ranges can be detected by varying the sample size.

Monitoring carbon monoxide in ambient air.

Using a sequential air sampler and plastic bags, ambient air samples can be collected for monitoring carbon monoxide levels over a 24-hr period. The carbon monoxide concentration is determined by catalytic conversion to methane and the methane is analyzed using a gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector.