Guyatt A R, Holmes M A, Cumming G
Eur J Respir Dis. 1981 Dec;62(6):383-90.
To investigate the possible absorption of carbon monoxide into the blood from tobacco smoke confined to the mouth and upper airways, an indirect study was made on 12 normal subjects of the recovery of CO from a bolus administered at various levels during a preceding inspiration. No measurable CO uptake was observed unless the bolus was inhaled early enough in inspiration to reach the alveolar region of the lung. Some movement of a tracer gas, argon, was however seen from the upper airways during breath-holding so that some CO might escape into the lungs this way. No detectable CO uptake occurred in one subject who inspired the bolus into his nasal cavities. We conclude that the elevated carboxyhaemoglobin levels seen in smokers, can only occur when smoke is inhaled into the lung, since no appreciable uptake can occur in the upper airways.
为了研究局限于口腔和上呼吸道的烟草烟雾中的一氧化碳是否可能被血液吸收，我们对12名正常受试者进行了一项间接研究，观察在前一次吸气过程中在不同水平给予一次推注后一氧化碳的恢复情况。除非推注在吸气过程中足够早地被吸入以到达肺部的肺泡区域，否则未观察到可测量的一氧化碳摄取。然而，在屏气期间，上呼吸道中可见一些示踪气体氩气的移动，因此一些一氧化碳可能以这种方式逸入肺部。一名将推注气体吸入鼻腔的受试者未检测到一氧化碳摄取。我们得出结论，吸烟者中观察到的碳氧血红蛋白水平升高，只有在烟雾被吸入肺部时才会发生，因为在上呼吸道中不会发生明显的摄取。
