Rate of uptake of carbon monoxide at different inspired concentrations in humans

The rate of uptake of carbon monoxide (CO) in the lungs of normal subjects were measured at inspired concentrations of less than 1, 300, and 3,000 ppm (less than 0.0001-0.3%) using radioactive CO (11CO). In nine subjects the rate of uptake was monitored at the mouth during rebreathing. At inspired CO concentrations of approximately 1, 300, and 3,000 ppm and a mean alveolar O2 fraction of 0.15, the mean lung diffusing capacity was 25.8, 26.4, and 25.3 ml . min-1. Torr-1, respectively. In seven subjects the measurements were repeated after a period of O2 breathing, giving a mean alveolar O2 fraction of 0.78. The calculated membrane diffusing capacity was 31.9, 33.7, and 32.0 ml . min-1. Torr-1 at less than 1, 300, and 3,000 ppm inspired CO. We conclude that there is no difference in the rate of uptake of CO over the range of concentrations studied in these experiments. No evidence for the presence of a facilitated transport system for CO in the normal human lung was found.