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Real-time measurement of short-term peaks in environmental CO concentrations in the homes of the elderly in South Wales

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 16, pages 525–530 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

In order to determine whether short-term World Health Organization (WHO) guideline limits for carbon monoxide (CO) are exceeded in the home environment, a number of sensors were constructed capable of real-time measurement. These were deployed for a period of 7 days to continuously monitor CO concentrations in 44 non-smoking households using either gas, coal, electricity, liquid propane gas, or oil for heating fuel in South Wales. The mean environmental concentrations over the period monitored were less than 1 p.p.m and WHO short-term limits were not exceeded in any household. In another 20 homes containing a smoker the mean concentrations measured over a period of 2 days ranged from 0.1 to 21 p.p.m and WHO short-term limits were exceeded in one household.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge funding from the Medical Research Council (Grant Number G9900679) and we thank Neath and Port Talbot County Borough Council, our collaborators in the Housing and Neighbourhood and Health (HANAH) project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Occupational, Safety, Health and Environment Unit, Heath Park, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK

    Katrina A Henderson

  2. Department of Epidemiology, Statistics and Public Health, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK

    Sharon Parry & Ian P Matthews

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  1. Katrina A Henderson
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  2. Sharon Parry
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  3. Ian P Matthews
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Correspondence to Ian P Matthews.

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Henderson, K., Parry, S. & Matthews, I. Real-time measurement of short-term peaks in environmental CO concentrations in the homes of the elderly in South Wales. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 16, 525–530 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jes.7500491

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jes.7500491

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