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Mortality associated with exposure to carbon monoxide in WHO E uropean M ember S tates
Author(s) -
Braubach M.,
Algoet A.,
Beaton M.,
Lauriou S.,
Héroux M.E.,
Krzyzanowski M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
indoor air
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.387
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 1600-0668
pISSN - 0905-6947
DOI - 10.1111/ina.12007
Subject(s) - carbon monoxide poisoning , co poisoning , member states , environmental health , medicine , occupational safety and health , poison control , incidence (geometry) , injury prevention , mortality rate , medical emergency , demography , european union , business , chemistry , surgery , biochemistry , physics , pathology , optics , economic policy , catalysis , sociology
Abstract In closed environments, the concentration of carbon monoxide ( CO ) can easily rise to health‐threatening levels. CO ‐related incidents are often caused by poor condition or inappropriate use of indoor combustion devices as well as structure fires but are also due to suicides. To evaluate the incidence of CO poisoning in E urope, national data on CO ‐related mortality and morbidity were compiled from M ember S tates of the WHO E uropean R egion using a standardized data collection form. National data on CO poisoning were provided by 28 M ember S tates. Within the maximum reporting period (1980–2008), a total of 140 490 CO ‐related deaths were reported (annual death rate of 2.2/100 000). The number of hospital admissions available from six countries was 31 473. Unintentional CO deaths accounted for 54.7% of the CO ‐related deaths (35.9%: unintentional inhalation; 18.8%: related to structure fires). The intentional deaths related to CO exposure account for 38.6% of all CO ‐related deaths (38.1%: suicides; 0.5%: homicides). CO exposure is preventable but causes a substantial amount of deaths in many E uropean countries. More efficient measures and policies to prevent CO poisoning and better reporting of CO mortality are necessary.