In order to evaluate the degree of exposure of the S. Paulo city (Brazil) population to carbon monoxide, 327 blood samples from adults were collected and the carboxihemoglobin content determined by the spectrophotometric method. Thirty of these samples (control group) were taken from residents of a city (Embú-Guaçu) considered by its characteristics to be an area of low environmental carbon monoxide concentration. The following results were obtained: traffic policemen: smokers 6.3 ± 2.07, non-smokers 2.1 ± 0.68; bus drivers: smokers 4.6 ± 1.94, non-smokers 1.6 ± 0.46; control: smokers 3.8 ± 1.74, non-smokers 0.8 ± 0.21.
Carbon monoxide; Spectrophotometry