title: Unintentional deaths from carbon monoxide in motor vehicle exhaust: West Virginia.
abstract: We investigated the circumstances of unintended carbon monoxide deaths from motor vehicle exhaust. Of 64 episodes involving 82 deaths investigated by the West Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, 1978-84, 50 occurred outdoors in older vehicles with defective exhaust systems and 14 occurred in enclosed or semi-enclosed home garages. Blood alcohol was detected in 50 (68 per cent) of 74 victims tested; 34 had blood alcohol concentrations greater than or equal to 0.10 g/dl. We suggest increasing public awareness of the hazards of motor vehicle exhaust and enforcing vehicle inspection regulations.
authors: Office of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, West Virginia Department of Health, Charleston 25305.
authors: R C
authors: RC
authors: Baron
authors: R C
authors: RC
authors: Backer
authors: I M
authors: IM
authors: Sopher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001336:Automobiles / Q000592:standards; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*; D014903:West Virginia
chemical_list: D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D000431:Ethanol