title: The role of hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide in fire casualties: a prospective study.
abstract: Determinations of blood cyanide and carboxyhemoglobin concentrations were performed in 18 victims found dead in buildings after fires during a 2-year period. The results indicated that 50% of the victims had been exposed to toxic levels of hydrogen cyanide and 90% to toxic levels of carbon monoxide. Lethal concentrations of carbon monoxide were found in 83% of the victims. In one case a lethal blood cyanide but a non-toxic blood carboxyhemoglobin value was found. It is concluded that carbon monoxide appears to be more important than hydrogen cyanide as a toxic agent in the fire atmosphere, but cyanide poisoning without carbon monoxide poisoning may, under certain circumstances, be the cause of death in fire victims.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lundquist
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rammer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sörbo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000097:blood*; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D002423:Cause of Death; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005390:Fires; D006801:Humans; D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide; D000431:Ethanol; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin