Determination of carboxyhemoglobin levels and health effects on officers working at the Istanbul Bosphorus Bridge.

Urban air pollution is a problem throughout the world. Carbon monoxide (CO), one of the major air pollutants, is an odorless, colorless, tasteless, and toxic gas, which is mainly produced by incomplete combustion of the fossil fuels such as gasoline and kerosene. The main outdoor sources of CO gas are vehicle exhausts, industrial effluents, and fires. When inhaled CO gas causes occupational hazards especially on workers who work at the junctions of heavy traffic roads and at the inefficiently ventilated closed areas such as parking garages and car repair shops. The purpose of this research was to determine the relation between carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) and CO levels and its health effects on cashiers working at the Istanbul Bosphorus Bridge. In the research the carbon monoxide and carboxyhemoglobin levels in the alveolar air of the numbers of the test group and the control group were measured and a questionnaire consisting of questions related to the personal information, their habitats as smoking or not smoking and the health conditions of the test and control group members were filled by interviewing them. The data obtained was analyzed by using Microsoft Excel Table Graphic Program, Chi-Square (2) Test and the Student-t Test. The results indicated that smokers are affected more by the CO than the nonsmokers.