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Interaction between carbon monoxide and ethanol in fire fatalities
B Levine1, K A Moore, D Fowler
1Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of Maryland, 111 Penn St., Baltimore, MD 21204, USA.
Forensic Science International
|January 17, 2002
Summary
Ethanol impairs individuals, increasing fire fatality risk. However, this study found no evidence that ethanol directly alters carbon monoxide (CO) levels in the blood, suggesting impairment is the primary risk factor.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Fire Fatality Investigation
- Toxicology
Background:
- Ethanol consumption is a known risk factor in fire-related deaths.
- The potential physiological interaction between ethanol and carbon monoxide (CO) affecting carboxyhemoglobin saturation (COHb sat.) levels at death is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether ethanol influences carboxyhemoglobin saturation levels in fire fatalities.
- To determine if ethanol's risk in fire deaths is due to direct physiological interaction with CO or behavioral impairment.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 196 fire fatalities from Maryland over a 3-year period.
- Tabulation of carboxyhemoglobin saturation (COHb sat.) and blood ethanol concentrations (BAC).
- Exclusion of 12 cases with other drugs, leaving 184 cases for analysis.
Main Results:
- The study found no correlation between the presence of ethanol and carboxyhemoglobin saturation levels.
- The percentage of cases positive for ethanol showed no trend across different COHb ranges.
Conclusions:
- Ethanol does not appear to directly affect the carboxyhemoglobin saturation level associated with death in fire fatalities.
- The increased risk of fire fatalities associated with ethanol is likely due to the cognitive and physical impairment it causes, not a direct interaction with carbon monoxide.