| CARBON MONOXIDE
CONCENTRATIONS* |
| Concentration of CO in Air |
Effects, Inhalation Times and Symptoms Developed |
| 1-2 ppm (0.0001%) |
Might be normal, from cooking stoves, spillage, outdoor traffic. |
| 2 ppm (0.0002%) |
Suggested maximum long-term allowable exposure (Source: Some IAQ
Professionals). |
| Above 2 ppm |
Raises questions about why CO is elevated. |
| 9 ppm |
The maximum allowable concentration for short term exposure in
a living area (Source: ASHRAE) |
| 15-20 ppm |
Impaired performance in time discrimination (COHb 2.0); decrease
in absolute exercise time (COHb 2.5); shortened time to angina response
(COHb @ 1.9); vigilance decrement (COHb 3.0) (Source: World Health
Organization 13 {WHO 13}). |
| 27 ppm (0.0027%) |
21 percent increase in cardio respiratory complaints. |
| 30 ppm (0.0030%) |
Earlier onset of exercise-induced angina (COHb 4.96%) (Source:
WHO 13). |
| 35 ppm (0.0035%) |
The maximum allowable concentration for continuous exposure in
any 8 hour period, according to federal law. |
| 75 ppm (0.0075%) |
Significant decrease in oxygen reserve available to the myocardium
(COHb 10%) |
| 200 ppm (0.02%) |
Slight headache, tiredness, dizziness, nausea after 2-3 hours,
might be life-threatening after 3 hours (Source: Bacharach). |
| 400 ppm (0.04%) |
Frontal headaches within 1-2 hours; life-threatening after 3 hours. |
| 800 ppm (0.08%) |
Dizziness, nausea and convulsions within 45 minutes; unconsciousness
within 2 hours, death within 2-3 hours. |
| 1,600 ppm (0.64%) |
Headache, dizziness and nausea within 20 minutes; death within
30 minutes. |
| 3,200 ppm (0.32%) |
Headache, dizziness and nausea within 5-20 minutes; quickly impaired
thinking; death within 30 minutes. |
| 6,400 ppm (0.64%) |
Headache, dizziness and nausea within 1-2 minutes; thinking impaired
before response possible; death within 10-15 minutes. |
| 12,800 ppm (1.28%) |
Death within 1-3 minutes. |
| *CO (Carbon Monoxide) 10,000 ppm (parts
per million) = 1% by volume |
