Carbon Monoxide Absorption through the Oral and Nasal Mucosae of Cynomolgus Monkeys

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that blood levels of CO increase during cigarette smoking. Increases in blood levels of CO could be interpreted as evidence that deep lung penetration of cigarette smoke had occurred. Whether increased blood CO levels could result from absorption in the nasal and oral cavities was studied. The nasal and oral cavities of cynomolgus monkeys were exposed, independently of the lungs, to cigarette smoke under rigorous smoking conditions. Pre- and post-exposure blood CO levels were measured. As a positive control, similar volumes of cigarette smoke were passed directly into the lungs, thus bypassing the oral and nasal cavities, and blood CO levels were again measured. Absorption of CO in the oral and nasal cavities is negligible under the heavy smoking regimen employed here, and would be negligible under normal smoking conditions.