Abstract
A method is presented by which an upper limit of the adverse health effect of existing ambient CO concentrations on the U. S. population can be estimated. The method is based upon estimating the primary human physiological response to CO concentrations (COHb%) for the population in terms of person-hour-COHb>1.5% resulting from the time exposure of the population to CO concentrations in excess of the federally designated ambient air quality standard. The estimates of person-hour-COHb>1.5% are for exposures only to ambient CO concentrations and do not take into account the additional CO exposure for people who smoke or have occupational exposures.
We estimate that there were up to 30.9×109 person-hour-COHb>1.5% in 1973 due to ambient concentrations in excess of the ambient 8-hour CO standard, with approximately 5×109 person-hour-COHb>1.5% occurring West of the Continental Divide and 25.9>109 person-hour-COHb>1.5% occuring East of the Continental Divide; of these 21.3×109 personhour-COHb>1.5% occurred in New York City. It was also estimated that a 60% reduction in 1973 ambient concentrations of CO (corresponding to an automotive emmision standard of less than 15 g/mile) would be needed to reduce to zero the person-hour-COHb>1.5%. The maximum estimated effects on the U.S. population of increases in ambient CO concentration above 1973 levels are also presented.
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Leaderer, B.P., Stolwijk, J.A.J. & Zagraniski, R.T. Health benefits due to reductions of CO levels. Environmental Management 1, 131–137 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01866103
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01866103