Carbon Monoxide and the Blood Donor
Abstract
Blood donors can significantly elevate their blood carbon monoxide (CO) level by smoking prior to donation. Binding of CO to hemoglobin is stronger than for oxygen so that there is a competitive loss of oxygen carrying capacity. CO levels tend to respond to the balance of oxygen and CO concentrations, so that normally a slow exchange with the room air will result in a decrease in the acutely-increased CO level caused by smoking. In volunteer studies wherein smoking was followed by hyperventilation with oxygen (100%) or a bout of exercise, CO levels decreased to a greater degree than in smokers not hyperventilated. Blood donors were subjected to a 3-4 min exercise prior to donation; CO level was found to have decreased more than in smokers who did not exercise, despite the observation that the CO level in nonsmokers tended to rise after donation. In addition, a greater number of subjects demonstrated a decrease in CO with exercise compared with other smoker or nonsmoker groups who did not exercise.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 30, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0750581
Entities
People
- Charles E. Shields
- James Williams
Organizations
- United States Army Medical Research Laboratory