Investigation of the effects of carbon monoxide on humans in the driving task

Book · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1973

OSTI ID:6253528

Weir, F W; Rockwell, T H

Fifteen volunteers were exposed via chamber to CO with resulting carboxyhemoglobins (COHb) of 0 and 20%. Twenty-five volunteers were exposed and the carboxyhemoglobin levels were 0, 7, or 14%. In some tests there was periodic re-exposure with CO. Twenty-four tasks related to driving skills were either simulated or actually performed in a car. Overall results showed an increasing performance decrement with increasing COHb, but certain tests were either negative or nonlinear. Simple or routine tasks showed least correlation. Of the three driving performance levels, dynamic response (vehicle delay) was least affected, psychomotor control was more affected, and visual (perception) was most affected. Accidents are more related to the latter, but variability is also greatest at this level. Results suggest that subtle information acquisition changes (perceptual uncertainty) will be compounded by other debilitating factors.

• OSTI ID: 6253528
• Resource Relation: Related Information: Publication No. 4190
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BLOOD
CARBOXYHEMOGLOBIN
CARBON MONOXIDE
HEALTH HAZARDS
AIR POLLUTION
AUTOMOBILES
BEHAVIOR
INHALATION
MAN
PERFORMANCE
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY FLUIDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
HAZARDS
INTAKE
MAMMALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
VEHICLES
VERTEBRATES
560306* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)
551000 - Physiological Systems