Carbon monoxide poisoning from indoor burning of charcoal briquets
N. B. Hampson, C. C. Kramer, R. G. Dunford and D. M. Norkool
Department of Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Wash.
OBJECTIVE--To describe the case characteristics of a series of patients
poisoned with carbon monoxide (CO) resulting from indoor burning of
charcoal briquets. DESIGN--Cases of patients with unintentional CO
poisoning referred for treatment with hyperbaric oxygen were reviewed.
Cases that occurred as the result of indoor burning of charcoal briquets
were analyzed. SETTING--A private, urban, tertiary care center.
PATIENTS--Seventy-nine patients ranging from 3 months to 87 years of age
referred from 10 counties within the state of Washington between October
1982 and October 1993. RESULTS--Of 509 patients treated for acute
unintentional CO poisoning, 79 cases occurred in 32 incidents as a result
of indoor burning of charcoal briquets, for the purpose of either home
heating or cooking. A majority of cases occurred in the months of October
through January, commonly during power outages or when electricity was
intentionally disconnected. Patients of minority races were
disproportionately represented compared with the general population of the
region. CONCLUSIONS--Carbon monoxide poisoning is a significant hazard from
indoor use of charcoal briquets. All cases are avoidable and public
awareness of the risk should be enhanced.
