Effects of Carbon Monoxide on Health

Probably the largest group of studies relating to automobile emissions concerns the health effects of carbon monoxide. Breathing carbon monoxide increases the level of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) in the blood, thus reducing the amount of free hemoglobin available for carrying oxygen to body tissues for normal activity. The saturation of the blood with COHb is known to put a strain on the heart, as well as affecting performance on standardized tests (impaired coordination, inability to judge time, s…