Risk factors of nonoccupational carbon monoxide poisoning during the 2008 ice storm in Guiyang County, Hunan Province, China.

摘要

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless toxic gas produced by incomplete combustion in fuel-burning devices. People with CO poisoning often overlook the symptoms (e.g., headache, nausea, dizziness, or confusion), yet undetected exposure can be fatal. In several countries, the maximum safe level of exposure to CO for a one-hour period is between 32 and 40 parts per million. In China, some health education programs claim that adequate ventilation alone can be an effective preventive measure against CO poisoning. However, this claim is not very comprehensive, as it takes other specific measures to prevent CO poisoning. Previous literature only noted that CO poisoning occurred in the absence of good ventilation and did not elaborate on the associated behavioral and conditional factors. This study attempted to determine the risk factors of behaviors and conditions that cause CO poisoning.