Effects of Short-Term Low Level Carbon Monoxide Exposure on Human Performance
Abstract
The effects of 0, 50, 125, 200, and 250 ppm of carbon monoxide exposure on human time estimation, tracking, ataxia, galvanic skin response and heart rate were tested in 10 subjects. Mean carboxyhemoglobin levels from .96 to 12.37% were reached after 3 hours of exposure. No significant symptoms were reported by subjects, and no ability to detect the presence of CO was noted. No overall trend toward poorer estimates of a 10 second interval occurred as a function of CO uptake, and tracking performance did not become worse over the course of the exposure to CO. There were some indications that subjects under CO showed a different overall pattern of tracking over time than control subjects in that their performance curve was flatter. However, this observation must be considered tentative. No changes in absolute heart rate occurred during task performance in any group, but there was slightly less cardiac deceleration at the onset of a task in the CO groups during early exposure. No differences in galvanic skin response were found between any groups. It is concluded that the present data do not support the hypothesis that low level carbon monoxide exposure results in human performance decrements. Additional investigation is required to define the lower limit and extent of such exposure to resolve major conflicts in the literature.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0717716
Entities
People
- James Theodore
- Patrick Heinig
- Peter Mikulka
- Robert D. O'donnell
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory