Fatal Unintentional Non-Fire Related Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Data from Narrative Verdicts in England and Wales, 1998–2019

Rebecca M. Close, Neelam Iqbal, Sarah J. Jones, Andrew Kibble, Robert J. Flanagan, Helen Crabbe and Giovanni S. Leonardi
Additional contact information
Rebecca M. Close: Radiation, Chemicals and Environment Directorate, UK Health Security Agency, Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK
Neelam Iqbal: Radiation, Chemicals and Environment Directorate, UK Health Security Agency, Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK
Sarah J. Jones: Environmental Public Health Team, Health Protection Division, Public Health Wales, Cardiff CF10 3NW, UK
Andrew Kibble: Environmental Public Health Team, Health Protection Division, Public Health Wales, Cardiff CF10 3NW, UK
Robert J. Flanagan: Precision Medicine, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London SE5 9RS, UK
Helen Crabbe: Radiation, Chemicals and Environment Directorate, UK Health Security Agency, Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK
Giovanni S. Leonardi: Radiation, Chemicals and Environment Directorate, UK Health Security Agency, Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-11

Abstract: Unintentional non-fire related (UNFR) carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning continues to cause fatalities. The narrative verdicts from coroners concerning fatal UNFR CO poisoning in England and Wales, 1998–2019, were collated by the Office for National Statistics. Search terms related to CO exposure were used to obtain information regarding the circumstances of death. Findings were grouped by the location of death, the source of CO, and the reason or behaviour underlying the exposure. There were 750 deaths (77% male). The annual number of deaths decreased over the period studied. Two thirds (68%) of the deaths occurred in the autumn or winter. From the records with information, 59% of deaths occurred within a dwelling (67% male). Males also predominated deaths within vehicles (91%) and garages or outbuildings (95%). From the deaths with information, domestic piped gas was the most common source of CO (36%) and the most frequent underlying factor was inadequate ventilation of exhaust gases (39%, 91% male). Despite the decrease in the annual number of deaths over the study period, there remains a clear need for measures that raise awareness of the dangers of CO poisoning, especially amongst men working alone in garages or outbuildings. Education campaigns and fitting and maintaining CO alarms in high-risk areas should be encouraged.

Keywords: carbon monoxide; CO; unintentional poisoning; environmental epidemiology; environmental public health; unintentional death; preventing CO poisoning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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