Korean J Leg Med.  2007 May;31(1):117-120.

Fatal Carbon Monoxide Poisoning from Incomplete Combustion of Charcoal Briquets: Effect on Public Health of Forensic Medical Expert's Announcement Through the Mass Media

• Lee SY
• Huh GY
• Kim KH
• Eun SS
• Kim SJ

Abstract

Carbon monoxide poisoning is probably one of the most common toxic condition to be met with the routine forensic practice. Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-irritating gas whose relative density is a little less than that of air. The most common source of carbon monoxide in death are fires, automobile exhaust, defected heaters, and incomplete combustion of burning products, such as charcoal briquets. Suicidal deaths caused by carbon monoxide are mostly involve inhalation of automobile exhaust and rarely incomplete combustion of charcoal briquets. We recently experienced three cases of suicidal carbon monoxide death by using the carbon monoxide produced by incomplete combustion of charcoal briquets. These deaths were subsequently occurred after forensic medical expert's announcement of accidental carbon monoxide death occurred at shellfish grill restaurant through the television. And we presents four cases of carbon monoxide death with considering of the social effects of forensic medical expert's announcement through the mass media.

Keyword

Suicide; Carbon Monoxide Death; Charcoal Briquet

MeSH Terms

Burns
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning*
Carbon Monoxide*
Carbon*
Charcoal*
Fires
Inhalation
Mass Media*
Public Health*
Restaurants
Shellfish
Specific Gravity
Suicide
Television
Vehicle Emissions
Carbon
Carbon Monoxide
Charcoal
Vehicle Emissions