Pathology in Animals Exposed to High Concentrations of Carbon Monoxide for Six Months,
Abstract
Rats, mice, baboons, rhesus monkeys, and beagle dogs were exposed to 460 mgm/cu. M CO for 71 days followed by 575 mgm/cu. M CO for 97 days in a 68% O2, 32% N2, 5 psi environment. Anatomic changes found were confined to rodents and consisted of an increase in heart and spleen weights. This can be explained on the basis of increased RBC volume and blood viscosity. The possibility that the rats had begun to reach the maximum tolerable compensatory increase in RBC volume must be considered based on the death of two rats on the 166th day of exposure with lesions suggestive of circulatory complications. No anatomic changes were found in the other species. Based on the pathologic studies, it is indicated that CO has no direct effect on the body that produces a degenerative anatomic change. The animals at risk in this experiment were young healthy adults in the case of the rodents and dogs and healthy adolescent primates. They are not representative of human population at risk in a civilian community or, for that matter, in the Air Force as a whole. However, it does seem that the body's ability to adjust to high CO levels is much greater than had been previously suspected and is limited mainly by available circulatory reserve. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0727505
Entities
People
- Paul N. Monteleone Jr
- Roman L. Patrick Jr.
- William F. Mackenzie
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory