CARBON MONOXIDE CONTROL IN A HIGH HIGHWAY TUNNEL

THE CARBON MONOXIDE PROBLEM IS CONSIDERED IN THREE PARTS: (1) PHYSIOLOGIC PROBLEMS FROM HYPOXIA DUE TO ELEVATION AND CARBON MONOXIDE, (2) IN VARIOUS HIGHWAY TUNNELS, AND (3) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE STRAIGHT CREEK TUNNEL. THIS TUNNEL IS TO BE 1.6 MILES LONG, TWO MILES HIGH AND IS PLANNED FOR CONSTRUCTION AS A VEHICULAR TUNNEL. BOTH ELEVATION AND CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE TUNNEL WILL TAX THE OXYGEN-CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE BLOOD OF TUNNEL EMPLOYEES AND INDIVIDUALS TRAVELING THROUGH THE TUNNEL. BASED ON PRESENT INFORMATION, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT: (1) CARBON MONOXIDE CONCENTRATION BE MAINTAINED BELOW TWENTY-FIVE PPM WITH ONE-HOUR AVERAGES NO HIGHER THAN FIFTY PPM AND SHORT TERM PEAKS NO HIGHER THAN SEVENTY-FIVE PPM, (2) SIGNS BE PLACED ON THE ROUTE TO WARN SENSITIVE INDIVIDUALS OF THE DANGERS OF HIGH ELEVATIONS AND SMOKING AND TO SUGGEST POSSIBLE ALTERNATE ROUTES, (3) OXYGEN MASKS BE PROVIDED AT THE TUNNEL FOR EMERGENCY USE, (4) CONSTRUCTION WORKERS BE CAREFULLY SCREENED FOR CARDIOPULMONARY ABNORMALITIES, AS WELL AS BLOOD DYSCASIAS, AND (5) FULL-TIME TUNNEL EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE CAREFULLY SCREENED AND EVALUATED.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 15, pp 16-25, 6 FIG, 37 REF
• Authors:
  • Miranda, J M
  • Konopinski, V J
  • Larsen, R I
• Publication Date: 1967-7

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Archives of Environmental Health
  • Publisher: Heldref Publications

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Altitude; Biochemical oxygen demand; Carbon monoxide; Concentration (Chemistry); Control; Highways; Hypoxia; Oxygen; Personnel; Physiological aspects; Tunneling; Tunnels; Vehicle occupants; Vehicles; Warning signs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Concentration; Elevation
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Passenger Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Society; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00222691
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 6 1994 12:00AM