Safe tolerability limits for carbon monoxide? A review of the clinical andfire engineering implications of a single, acute, sub-lethal exposure

Carbon monoxide (CO) is the dominant gas in fire smoke toxicity. In many ca ses, according to Babrauskas [1], carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and the d epletion of oxygen are the only toxic agents of consequence. The problems o f CO have been studied [2] at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the views of Babrauskas would be based on such work. While acknowledging this view, this paper concentrates on the suggested dom inant role of carbon monoxide. The views expressed recognise that this is n ot a novel problem. Rather, the paper attempts to bring together two, quite separate, discussions of the medical and fire science literature.