Unintentional carbon monoxide-related deaths in the United States, 1979 through 1988

Article Abstract:

Lethal amounts of carbon monoxide can be produced by all combustible fuels. The carbon monoxide produced by simple fires is accompanied by noxious gases and smoke, and so fatal amounts of carbon monoxide are not usually permitted to accumulate. However, clean-burning fuels create little smell or smoke, and therefore the odorless carbon monoxide can, on occasion, collect unnoticed. A survey of carbon monoxide deaths over a 10-year period was undertaken to tabulate the factors involved with fatal carbon monoxide poisonings. A total of 25,889 deaths from carbon monoxide over this period were suicides and 210 were homicides. Poisoning was associated with serious burns or house fires in 15,523 cases. There were 11,547 unintentional deaths directly due to carbon monoxide poisoning. From 1979 to 1988, the annual number of unintentional deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning declined from 1,513 to 878. (During this same period, the US population increased by 21 million.) The majority of these deaths, 6,552 or 57 percent, were due to automobile exhaust. As might be expected, 83 percent of these deaths occurred in stationary vehicles, while 1,100 deaths occurred in moving vehicles. At least 109 of these people were passengers; on most deaths certificates it was not specified whether the victim was passenger or driver. The source of the carbon monoxide poisoning was not specified in 2,302 cases. The use of wood, coal, or other fuel in a stove or fireplace was the origin of the carbon monoxide in 1,199 cases. The death rate was roughly comparable for all age groups, with the exception of the very young and the very old. The death rate varied widely among the states, however. Alaska had the highest rate of unintentional carbon monoxide-related deaths, and Hawaii had the lowest. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

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Exposure of the US population to environmental tobacco smoke: the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988 to 1991

Article Abstract:

A large percentage of the US population may be exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Researchers examined data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), which surveyed 14,269 US residents. A total of 10,642 also donated blood samples, which were tested for cotinine, the major metabolite of nicotine. Forty-three percent of the children were exposed to ETS at home and 37.4% of adult nonsmokers were exposed to ETS at home or at work. When the analysis was restricted to working adults, 47.7% were exposed to ETS at home or work and the average exposure was four hours. However, exposure to ETS was much more common when blood cotinine levels were analyzed. Among nonsmokers, 87.9% had detectable amounts of cotinine in their blood. When smokers were included, 91.7% of the entire group had detectable blood cotinine levels. Cotinine levels were higher in children compared to adults, in blacks compared to whites and in men compared to women.

Measurement, Cotinine, Passive smoking

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Deaths from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning and potential for prevention with carbon monoxide detectors

Article Abstract:

Many deaths from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning could be prevented using a carbon monoxide detector. CO poisoning claims the lives of about 2,000 people in the US every year. Researchers investigated 136 deaths from CO poisoning in New Mexico between 1980 and 1995. About half of those who died in a house were probably asleep at the time of the exposure. This contrasts with deaths from CO poisoning in automobiles. These victims could have been awakened by an audible CO alarm. Many of the victims had an elevated blood alcohol level.

Usage, Gas detectors, Gas-detectors

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