Unique case of fatal carbon monoxide poisoning in the absence of a combustible fossil fuel.
A 37-year-old man died as a result of exposure to carbon monoxide within an apartment. An investigation of the apartment showed no gas appliances or gas supply to the apartment and no evidence of any combustion event to any part of the apartment or roof space. Inhalation of dichloromethane was excluded. Heating to the apartment was found to be via an electrical storage heater, the examination of which revealed that the cast-iron core and insulating material showed evidence of heat damage with significant areas devoid of carbon. This electric storage heater is hypothesized to be the source of carbon for the fatal production of carbon monoxide within the apartment.
Morgan
D R
DR
Department of Pathology, Scarborough Hospital, North Yorkshire, UK.
Poon
P
P
Titley
J
J
Jagger
S F
SF
Rutty
G N
GN
D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D004560:Electricity; D004868:Equipment Failure; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D006361:Heating / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D005579:Fossil Fuels