Carbon Monoxide Quick Reference Guide

CO levels PPM

Time

Standard

Info

SPARROW

 

1 – 2 ppm

 

 

Low levels may be found in some environments

 

9 ppm

 

For 8 hours

 

WHO (World Health Organization) & US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Standard for CO exposure in Outdoor Air

 

Sensitive individuals are at greater risk to low levels of CO:

Pregnant women, infants, elderly, and those with respiratory illnesses

15 ppm – SPARROW’s 1st alert level

 

26 ppm

 

1 hour

 

WHO Guidelines for recommended exposure threshold

 

Varying health effects with long-term exposure

 

35 ppm

 

1 hour

 

US EPA Standard for Outdoor Air

 

Not to be exceeded more than 1 time per year

35 PPM –SPARROW’s 2nd alert level

 

52 ppm

 

30 minutes

 

WHO Guidelines for recommended exposure threshold

 

70 PPM – SPARROW’s 3rd alert level

 

87 ppm

 

15 minutes

 

WHO Guidelines for recommended exposure threshold

Headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea

330 ppm

1 hour

NRC (National Research Council) AEGL-3

Lethal

600 ppm

30 minutes

NRC AEGL-3

Lethal

1700 ppm

10 minutes

NRC AEGL-3

Lethal