Carbon Monoxide Levels: Individuals Occupationally Exposed to Vehicle Exhaust

Using a portable breath carbon monoxide analyser, breath carbon monoxide (CO) of non‐smoking police motorcyclists in central London was found to be consistently elevated in comparison to non‐smoking pedestrians. Although the highest levels were found among smokers, some of the non‐smoking policemen had similar levels to their smoking colleagues. The highest levels among non‐smoking police personnel were found in a group of car mechanics working in a partially enclosed garage. Among the non‐smoking police motorcyclists the highest levels were seen on the day with the highest maximum average hourly ambient CO,the lowest wind speed and the highest air temperature. We conclude that occupational exposure to exhaust fumes leads to elevated levels of breath CO.