Formulation of the principal factors affecting the rate of uptake of carbon monoxide by man.

The following formula was derived to describe the uptake of carbon monoxide by man: ..delta..% COHb = (parts CO (per 10,000) x minute vol. x exposure time)/(46.5 x blood volume). Thirty-two volunteers were tested at rest and after walking on a treadmill. The volunteers were exposed to 0.9 to 21.8 parts CO per 10,000 for 15 to 300 minutes. There was no control of smoking.