MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2007 Dec 21;56(50):1309-12.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless toxic gas produced by incomplete combustion in fuel-burning devices such as motor vehicles, gas-powered furnaces, and portable generators. Persons with CO poisoning often overlook the symptoms (e.g., headache, nausea, dizziness, or confusion), and undetected exposure can be fatal. Unintentional CO exposure accounts for an estimated 15,000 emergency department visits and 500 unintentional deaths in the United States each year. The most recent state-level estimates of CO-related deaths were described in 1991 for the years 1979-1988. Using the most recent mortality data available, this report updates national and state-specific unintentional, non-fire-related CO mortality rates and describes the demographic, seasonal, and geographic patterns for 1999-2004. During this period, an average of 439 persons died annually from unintentional, non-fire-related CO poisoning, and the national average annual death rate was 1.5 per million persons. However, rates varied by demographic subgroup, month of the year, and state. Rates were highest among adults aged > or =65 years, men, non-Hispanic whites, and non-Hispanic blacks. The average number of deaths was highest during January. Among the states, Nebraska had the highest reliable CO mortality rate. These findings indicate that improved population-based prevention measures, including educating the public about the dangers of CO exposure, are needed at the state and national levels.
一氧化碳（CO）是一种无色、无味、无臭的有毒气体，由机动车、燃气炉和便携式发电机等燃油燃烧设备不完全燃烧产生。一氧化碳中毒者常常忽视症状（如头痛、恶心、头晕或意识模糊），未被察觉的接触可能致命。在美国，每年估计有15000人次因一氧化碳意外接触而前往急诊科就诊，500人死于一氧化碳意外中毒。1991年描述了1979 - 1988年各州一氧化碳相关死亡的最新估计数据。本报告利用现有最新死亡率数据，更新了全国和各州特定的非火灾相关一氧化碳意外死亡率，并描述了1999 - 2004年的人口统计学、季节和地理模式。在此期间，每年平均有439人死于非火灾相关的一氧化碳意外中毒，全国平均年死亡率为每百万人1.5人。然而，死亡率因人口亚组、一年中的月份和州而异。65岁及以上成年人、男性、非西班牙裔白人以及非西班牙裔黑人中的死亡率最高。死亡人数平均在1月份最多。在各州中，内布拉斯加州的一氧化碳死亡率最为可靠。这些发现表明，在州和国家层面需要加强基于人群的预防措施，包括向公众宣传一氧化碳接触的危害。
