Evaluation of methods used to estimate inhaled dose of carbon monoxide.

Abstract
Estimation of alveolar CO measured either as end-expired or mixed-expired CO tension were measured with 2 spectrophotometric estimations of venous blood COHb. Estimation of mixed-expired CO proved more convenient for patients than the end-expired method, and this estimation of CO exposure discriminated between non-smokers and smokers as well as measurements of COHb. The technique is bloodless, economical and simple to perform. It should be a valuable method for validating reported smoking habits of people attending smoking advisory centers and for epidemiological surveys of smoking.