Epidemiological study of carbon monoxide deaths in Scotland 2007-2016

Lisbona, C. F. and Hamnett, H. J. (2018) Epidemiological study of carbon monoxide deaths in Scotland 2007-2016. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 63(6), pp. 1776-1782. (doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.13790) (PMID:29649351)

Abstract

Carbon monoxide (CO) intoxications are quite frequent in forensic toxicology. Using a sample of 209 CO‐positive deaths in Scotland from 2007 to 2016, this study provides ranges of percentage CO saturations (%COHb) according to the CO source and examines any correlation with age, gender, alcohol, and preexisting disease. It also reports the full toxicological findings, including drug concentrations, in CO‐positive cases. The highest numbers of fatalities involved males, occurred during autumn/winter, and the main source of CO was fire. The median %COHb in fire‐related cases was significantly lower than in non‐fire‐related cases such as those involving exhausts, generators and gas supply systems, and portable BBQs. There was no relationship between %COHb and age, blood alcohol concentration, or the presence of preexisting cardiovascular and/or respiratory disease. Toxicology results revealed that prescription medications were the most commonly detected drug group and that the number of cases positive for controlled drugs was small.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Pathology and forensic medicine, genetics.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hamnett, Dr Hilary
• Authors: Lisbona, C. F., and Hamnett, H. J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Journal of Forensic Sciences
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0022-1198
• ISSN (Online): 1556-4029
• Published Online: 12 April 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 American Academy of Forensic Sciences
• First Published: First published in Journal of Forensic Sciences 63(6): 1776-1782
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy