• B Groszek, D Szpak, J Nitecki, and A Brodkiewicz.
• Department of Toxicology, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Kraków.
• Prz. Lek. 1996 Jan 1; 53 (4): 338-41.

AbstractDetermination of the carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), methemoglobin (MetHb), and blood lactate concentrations is known as important contributive in evaluation of oxygen deficiency in people from urban populations. The methemoglobinemia is usually caused by unfavourable impact of NOx. A quantification of COHb allows, to some extend, to evaluate the threat of population with carbon monoxide (CO). An elevation in the blood lactate concentration indicate the oxygen insufficiency of the examined patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of the mentioned parameters in the three groups Kraków's population differently exposed to CO produced by incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials. The group I consisted of 53 patients treated at the Toxicological Department for acute CO poisoning. The group II comprised 31 subjects professionally exposed to CO. The group III comprised 99 adult Kraków's inhabitants who started education in the technical school and had never been professionally exposed to CO (control group). The elevation in methemoglobin concentration was not found in any of the examined group. The highest COHb level was noted in the group of the acute CO poisoned patients. No significant difference between COHb levels was found in the chronically exposed group (II) and in the control one. The increased blood lactate concentrations were found in both the acutely CO poisoned and in the group of chronically, by occupation, exposed to CO. No unfavourable impact of Nox reflected in methemoglobinemia was noted in any examined population. The determination of COHb levels is helpful in diagnosis of acute CO poisoning. The measuring of the blood lactate concentration allows to detect the oxygen insufficiency in acute CO poisoning and in states of long-term exposure to CO.

26 keywords...

hide…