Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Tents—A Review☆

Abstract

This review discusses the overlooked problem of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning within small tents. It summarizes previous case reports, reviews the toxicity of CO, and attempts to draw conclusions from experimental work. Finally, practical recommendations are developed on avoiding CO poisoning within tents. The term carbon monoxide was used in a search of the Medline database covering the years 1966 to 2003. The results were combined with the terms atmosphere or camps or stoves or climbs or mountains or tents or poisons. The resulting articles were reviewed, and those relevant to this problem were obtained. Hard copies were hand searched for further relevant articles until no more citations could be found. Three original articles were impossible to obtain but have been cited to assist others seeking to find them. Other data and articles were obtained from the Ministry of Defence but are unpublished for security reasons.

Investigating Carbon Monoxide Exposure on Denali

“…Descending climbers may also be less active and more sedentary when not actively descending, thus increasing their risk and decreasing perception of CO exposure. 5,18 The observance of elevated COHb levels in descending climbers in this study also raises the question of whether or not highaltitude mountaineers chronically accumulate CO over time because of low atmospheric pressures, the prolonged COHb half-life at altitude, prolonged daily stove use, a progressive decrease in activity level (especially after a summit attempt), and other undetermined factors. 6,12,18,19 Further research investigating the potential increased half-life of COHb at high altitude and the possible phenomenon of chronic CO accumulation by climbers operating portable stoves at high altitude is also needed.…”

“…The significant relationship between operating portable stoves for longer hours and positive AMS may suggest that CO exposure may be contributing to or mimicking AMS. 5,7,12 Significantly elevated COHb levels in participants taking medication for acclimatization also raises the question of whether specific medications may increase endogenous COHb levels or enhance CO exposure and warrants additional investigation. 6 There are several potential limitations to this study.…”

“…11,12 Descriptions of fatal CO poisonings also include exposures while cooking inside tents on camping trips in temperate climates and during military expeditions in subzero temperatures. 1,5,13 Carbon monoxide has a binding affinity with hemoglobin 200 to 250 times greater than oxygen and a halflife of 4 to 6 hours at sea level. Normal basal levels of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) range from Ͻ1.0% to 3.0% in nonsmokers and up to 10.0% in moderate smok-ers.…”

Karbonmonoksit Zehirlenmesi ve Mekanik Ventilasyon: Olgu Sunumu Literatür Derlemesi

“…Zehirlenmeden sag kaianlann yakla?ik %50-75'inde nörolojik veya psikiyatrik sekelier kalmaktadir. Karbon monoksit zehirlenmesi tedavisinin temelini %100 oksijen veya hiperbarik oksijen ve destek tedavi olu?turur (4,6,8,9).…”

“…CO maruziyet miktarma ve süresine bagli olarak ba? agnsi, bulanti, kusma, baj dönmesi, bulanik görme, gögüs agnsi, nefes darligi, rabdomiyoliz, senkop, konvülziyon, kardiyovasküler bozukluklar, koma, respiratuar arrest ve ölüm görülebilir (6,(9)(10)(11).…”