Carbon Monoxide as an Environmental Hazard: A Report on Some Cases of Poisoning in Italy

Abstract

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is still common, especially in houses where the sources of CO are numerous and particularly insidious. In 1991, we observed 11 people who were affected by acute CO poisoning; 8 cases of which occurred in the home and 3 in the working environment. Home poisoning often affected more than one person; the cause of the intoxication was always the result of a faulty heating system associated with poor ventilation of rooms. Our experience confirms that CO is an insidious threat more common than is generally believed which can cause incidences of extremely dangerous poison ing, sometimes representing a difficult challenge to medical practitioners. A deeper knowledge and correct prevention of this problem are the primary means of reducing the proportions of this risk.