@article{ref1,
title="Carboxyhemoglobin levels in a series of automobile fires. Death due to crash or fire?",
journal="American journal of forensic medicine and pathology",
year="1996",
author="Wirthwein, D. P. and Pless, John E.",
volume="17",
number="2",
pages="117-123",
abstract="The determination of death by trauma versus fire can be of major consideration, especially in civil product liability litigation. Blood carboxyhemoglobin levels can be instrumental in that differentiation. Twenty-eight fatalities involving fire in automobiles were reviewed. All subjects displayed some degree of body burn, and in 25 severe charring and/or incineration was present at autopsy. In only one case was there a history of explosion or flash fire. Carboxyhemoglobin levels varied from 92% to values of < 10%. In seven cases no collision occurred. In six of these subjects COHb values were > or = 47%. In all 16 cases with carboxyhemoglobin levels of < or = 10% a collision occurred. In 12 of 16 of these subjects, blunt force injury sufficient to cause death was discovered. Data presented in this article indicate that a carboxyhemoglobin level of > 30% strongly suggests inhalation of combustion products as the cause of death. In contrast, a level of < 20% should prompt a search for other causes.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0195-7910",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}