Petroleum dependency, smog & low level CO poisoning

by moth Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2004 at 8:14 AM

Petroleum dependency is cause of US occupation of Iraq is also responsible for smog and low level carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in inner city residents..

Petroleum dependency is the reason of the US military occupation of Iraq, second to Saudi Arabia for petroleum reserves (11% world's remaining oil). It seems Halliburton/Bechtel control of the petroleum infrastructure of Iraq is the US interest of gaining a near monopoly on global oil supply..

Sound like US imperialism?

Public Service Announcement;

Meanwhile in cities around the world (including America) petroleum combusted smog plagues the lungs of children and inner city residents. Some info not yet addressed by mainstream healthcare professionals is the chronic exposure to low levels of carbon monoxide (CO) found in auto exhaust. SUVs and large trucks emit 3x as much CO, NOx, CO2 as regular cars. These gas guzzlers also consume greater amounts of oxygen (O2) in the process of gasoline combustion..

"Auto exhaust contains 9% CO, catalytic converters reduce CO levels to below 1%."

Now multiply the number above by the amount of vehicles during rush hour traffic, then by 2-3 for every SUV/truck..

"CO normally appears in atmospheric concentrations of less than 0.001% (10 parts per million)."

"Expressway CO levels approach 25-100 parts per million. A 90 minute Los Angeles freeway exposure produced ECG abnormalities in 40 % of patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease and decreased exercise tolerance."

When CO is inhaled during normal breathing, the CO molecule shows 230-270 times greater affinity than oxygen to the iron in the blood's hemoglobin. The role of hemoglobin in the body is to transport oxygen to maintain living cells in the body. When CO bumps O2 off the hemoglobin, it cannot transport O2 and is considered carboxylated (COHb) with a half-life of 3-4 hours..

0.007% CO in atmosphere = 10 % COHb in blood (sangre)

symptoms = shortness of breath w/ vigorous exertion, dilation of cutaneous blood vessels

0.012 % CO in atmosphere = 20 % COHb in blood

symptoms = shortness of breath on moderate exertion, occasional headache with throbbing temples

0.022 % CO in atmosphere = 30 % COHb in blood

symptoms = decided headache, irritable, easily fatigued, judgement disturbed, possible dizzyness, dimness of vision

Further increase in atmospheric CO can result in collapse (0.035-0.052% CO in air, 40-50 % in blood) , unconsciousness (0.080-0.122% CO in air, 60-70 % in blood) or fatality (0.195 % CO in air, 80% in blood)

Atmospheric CO level 50 ppm = 8 % COHb in sangre

CO 100 ppm = 16% COHb in sangre

CO 200 ppm = 30 % COHb in sangre

Perceptible clinical effects occur with 2 hour exposure to atmospheric CO at 100 ppm (0.01%)..

Expressway traffic from 25-100 ppm, this doesn't include the additional factor of less oxygen availability due to combustion of gasoline and absence of trees (O2 producers). When oxygen is depleted by engine combustion, CO is increased by emissions, the ratio imbalance (including 230-270x greater affinity to CO than O2 by hemoglobin) can possibly lead to higher COHb than mentioned above..

Does "road rage" sound more like low level CO poisoning symptom irritability? What about misdiagnosed depression, fatigue and other common symptoms?

Long term effects on children and inner city residents that are exposed to low level CO poisoning on a daily basis can suffer long term damage to the heart and brain..

People have a choice. Please find a way to avoid petroleum dependency. Save the children from low level CO poisoning from auto smog..

Sources;

"Medical Toxicology Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Poisoning"

(Ellenhorn and Barceloux) pp. 820-825



Original: Petroleum dependency, smog & low level CO poisoning