CAI-Asia Factsheet No.

16
August 2010

Carbon monoxide (CO) Standards in Asia

arbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless,

colorless and toxic gas. Once emitted, CO can

remain in the atmosphere for months and can
be eventually oxidized to carbon dioxide (CO2)
contributing to climate change. As an oxide of Carbon,
it is primarily formed from incomplete combustion of
fossil fuels. Higher levels of CO occur in areas with
heavy traffic congestion. Other sources of CO
emissions include industrial sources and natural
sources i.e. forest fires. The highest ambient levels of
CO typically occur during the colder months of the
year when inversion conditions are more frequent
trapping CO near the ground beneath a layer of warm
air.

Figure 1. Diagram of carbon monoxide poisoning

Source: Healthwise Inc., 2008.

Health-related Impacts of CO
CO interferes with the oxygen-carrying capacity of
blood because of its high affinity for red blood cells,
which is roughly 240 times higher than that of oxygen.
When combined, carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) is
formed causing tissue hypoxia (Figure 1). Organs and
tissues with high O2 consumption such as the brain,
heavy exercising skeletal muscles and developing fetus
are affected most prominently.

Those susceptible to heart disease suffer

cardiovascular effects at low concentrations.
Meanwhile healthy people can develop vision
problems and reduced ability to perform work-related
tasks when affected with elevated concentrations.
Accidental deaths and suicides are common at very
high CO concentrations.

World Health Organization (WHO) Ambient Air Quality Guidelines

The following guideline values and periods of timeweighted average exposures were recommended by
WHO in order for the COHb level of 2.5% is not
exceeded, even when a normal subject engages in
light or moderate exercise. Guidelines for 15 minutes
and 30 minutes have been drafted due to the extreme
toxicity of CO at high concentrations in short periods
of time (Table 1).

Table 1. WHO Air Quality Guideline (AQG) for Carbon

3
monoxide (CO), g/m
Averaging
Period

15-mins
3
(g/m )
(000)

30 -mins
3
(g/m )
(000)

1-hr
3
(g/m )
(000)

8-hr
3
(g/m )
(000)

WHO
AQG

100

60

30

10

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CO Standards in Asia
Most of the surveyed Asian countries have CO standards for 1-hour and 8-hour averaging period within WHO AQG,
US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and the European
Union (EU) NAAQS. Some guidelines are even more stringent than the WHO AQG. More information is needed to
assess if Asian countries have standards comparable with the 15-mins and 30-mins WHO AQG.
3

Table 2. Summary of CO Standards in Select Asian countries (g/m ) (000)

3

Countries

CO, (g/m ) (000)

1-hr averaging period

CO, (g/m ) (000)

8-hr averaging period

40
10
4
2
40
10
10
20
30
30
4
4
30
35
30
10
10
35
29
40
30
34.2
30

10
5
2
1
20
10
10
2
2
10
10
10
5
5
10
10
10
10
10.26
10

Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Bhutan (Industrial)
Bhutan (Mixed)
Bhutan (Sensitive)
Cambodia
China: Grade I
China: Grade II
China: Grade III
Hong Kong SAR
1
Hong Kong SAR
2
India
3
India
Indonesia
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nepal
4
Pakistan
5
Pakistan
Philippines
Republic of Korea
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Viet Nam

China: Grade I = applies to specially protected areas, such as natural conservation areas, scenic spots, and historical sites; China: Grade II = applies to
residential areas, mixed commercial/residential areas, cultural, industrial, and rural areas; China: Grade III = special industrial areas; SAR = Special
Administrative Region; PDR = Peoples Democratic Republic
1 = Proposed air quality objectives for Hong Kong SAR.
2 = NAAQS for Industrial, Residential, Rural and Other Areas
3 = NAAQS for Ecologically Sensitive Areas (notified by Central Government)
4 = Draft: Effective from 1st Jan 09
5 = Draft: Effective from 1st Jan 2012
Carbon monoxide (CO) Conversion factor for ppb to g/m3: 1.145
Source: CAI-Asia Center, 2010. [Collected from various sources]

CAI-Asia Factsheet No. 16

August 2010

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Figure 2. 1-hr CO Standards in Asian countries vs. US EPA NAAQS and WHO AQG.
Bhutan (Sensitive)
India***
India**
Bhutan (Mixed)
Pakistan *****
China: Grade I
Pakistan****
China: Grade II
Bhutan (Industrial)
China: Grade III
Republic of Korea
Mongolia
Viet Nam
Hong Kong SAR*
Sri Lanka
Indonesia
Hong Kong SAR
Thailand
Philippines
Malaysia
Singapore
Cambodia
Bangladesh
Nepal
Myanmar
Lao PDR
Afghanistan

WHO AQG
30 g/m3

Countries

US EPA
40 g/m3

10

15

20

25

1-Hr CO (000) Standard

30

35

40

45

(g/m3)

Notes for Figure 2.

China: Grade I = applies to specially protected areas, such as natural conservation areas, scenic spots, and historical sites; China: Grade II = applies to residential
areas, mixed commercial/residential areas, cultural, industrial, and rural areas; China: Grade III = special industrial areas; SAR = Special Administrative Region;
PDR = Peoples Democratic Republic; WHO = World Health Organization; IT = interim target; AQG = air quality guidelines; US EPA = United States Environmental
Protection Agency
1 = Proposed air quality objectives for Hong Kong SAR.
2 = NAAQS for Industrial, Residential, Rural and Other Areas
3 = NAAQS for Ecologically Sensitive Areas (notified by Central Government)
4 = Draft: Effective from 1st Jan 09
5 = Draft: Effective from 1st Jan 2012
Carbon monoxide (CO) Conversion factor for ppb to g/m3: 1.145
Source: CAI-Asia Center, 2010. [Collected from various sources]

CAI-Asia Factsheet No. 16

August 2010

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Figure 3. 8-hr CO Standards in Asian countries vs. WHO AQG, US EPA, and EU NAAQS

Countries

Bhutan (Sensitive)
India***
India**
Bhutan (Mixed)
Pakistan *****
Pakistan****
Bhutan (Industrial)
Mongolia
Viet Nam
Hong Kong SAR*
Sri Lanka
Hong Kong SAR
Philippines
Singapore
Nepal
Thailand
Republic of Korea
Malaysia
Bangladesh
Cambodia
China: Grade I
China: Grade II
China: Grade III
Indonesia
Myanmar
Lao PDR
Afghanistan

WHO AQG
10 g/m3
US EPA
10 g/m3
EU
10 g/m3
0

10

8-Hr CO (000) Standard

15

20

25

(g/m3)

Notes for Figure 3.

China: Grade I = applies to specially protected areas, such as natural conservation areas, scenic spots, and historical sites; China: Grade II = applies to residential
areas, mixed commercial/residential areas, cultural, industrial, and rural areas; China: Grade III = special industrial areas; SAR = Special Administrative Region;
PDR = Peoples Democratic Republic; WHO = World Health Organization; AQG = air quality guidelines; US EPA = United States Environmental Protection Agency;
EU = European Union.
1 = Proposed air quality objectives for Hong Kong SAR.
2 = NAAQS for Industrial, Residential, Rural and Other Areas
3 = NAAQS for Ecologically Sensitive Areas (notified by Central Government)
4 = Draft: Effective from 1st Jan 09
5 = Draft: Effective from 1st Jan 2012
Carbon monoxide (CO) Conversion factor for ppb to g/m3: 1.145
Source: CAI-Asia Center, 2010. [Collected from various sources]

References
Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) Center, 2010. Air Quality in Asia: Status and Trends 2010
US EPA. 2010. Carbon monoxide. http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/co/index.html
Carbon monoxide poisoning. 2008. http://www.health.com/health/library/mdp/0,,zm2552,00.html
Schwela, Dieter, Haq, Gary, Huizenga, Cornie, Han, Wha-Jin, Fabian Herbert, Ajero, May, 2006. Urban Air Pollution in Asian Cities. United Kingdom
SEI, 2008. Foundation Course on Air Quality Management. http://www.sei.se/cleanair
International Programme on Environmental Safety, 2005. Environmental Health Criteria 213: Carbon Monoxide (second edition). World Health
Organization, International Labor Organization, and United Nations Environment Programme.
http://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc213.htm

2010 Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities Center. All rights reserved.
CAI-Asia, 2010. Factsheet No. 16 Carbon monoxide (CO) Standards in Asia. Pasig City, Philippines.
CAI-Asia Center
3504-3505 Robinsons-Equitable Tower, ADB Avenue,
Pasig City 1605 Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel +63 2 395 2843/Fax +63 2 395 2846,
center@cai-asia.org
www.cleanairinitiative.org

CAI-Asia Factsheet No. 16

August 2010