Citation

Baron RC, Backer RC, Sopher IM. Am. J. Public Health 1989; 79(3): 328-330.

Affiliation

Office of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, West Virginia Department of Health, Charleston 25305.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, American Public Health Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2464951

PMCID

PMC1349558

Abstract

We investigated the circumstances of unintended carbon monoxide deaths from motor vehicle exhaust. Of 64 episodes involving 82 deaths investigated by the West Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, 1978-84, 50 occurred outdoors in older vehicles with defective exhaust systems and 14 occurred in enclosed or semi-enclosed home garages. Blood alcohol was detected in 50 (68 per cent) of 74 victims tested; 34 had blood alcohol concentrations greater than or equal to 0.10 g/dl. We suggest increasing public awareness of the hazards of motor vehicle exhaust and enforcing vehicle inspection regulations.

Language: en