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Part Three – Understand the Effects of
Carbon Monoxide Exposure
The maximum allowable concentration for con-
tinuous exposure for healthy adults in any
8-hour period, according to OSHA*.
Slight headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea
after 2-3 hours.
Frontal headaches within 1-2 hours, life threat-
ening after 3 hours.
Dizziness, nausea and convulsions within 45
minutes. Unconsciousness within 2 hours. Death
within 2-3 hours.
Headache, dizziness and nausea within 20 min-
utes. Death within 1 hour.
Headache, dizziness and nausea within 5-10
minutes. Death within 25-30 minutes.
Headache, dizziness and nausea within 1-2 min-
utes. Death within 10-15 minutes.
Death within 1-3 minutes.
50 ppm
200 ppm
400 ppm
800 ppm
1 600 ppm
3 200 ppm
6 400 ppm
12 800 ppm
Concentration
of CO in Air
(ppm = parts
per million)
Approximate Inhalation Time
and Symptoms Developed
* Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Understand the Effects of Carbon Monoxide Exposure
Reminder: The chart above relates to the exposure of healthy adults.