Carbon Monoxide Exposure Carbon monoxide (CO) combines with the hemoglobin of the blood to...

Carbon Monoxide Exposure Carbon monoxide (CO) combines with the hemoglobin of the blood to form carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), which reduces transport of oxygen to tissues. Smokers routinely have a 4% to 6% COHb level in their blood, which can cause symptoms such as blood flow alterations, visual impairment, and poorer vigilance ability. The quadratic model

approximates the exposure time in hours necessary to reach this 4% to 6% level, where  is the amount of carbon monoxide present in the air in parts per million (ppm).

(a) A kerosene heater or a room full of smokers is capable of producing 50 ppm of carbon monoxide. How long would it take for a nonsmoking person to start feeling the above symptoms?

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(b) Find the carbon monoxide concentration necessary for a person to reach the 4% to 6% COHb level in 3 hr. Round to the nearest tenth.