Carbon Monoxide and Human Lethality

This book summarizes a comprehensive study of the importance of carbon monoxide [CO] in fire atmospheres. It involves review on CO toxity to humans in fires and non-fire CO atmospheres; review of the toxicity to humans of low CO levels; review of carboxyhaemoglobin measurement techniques; review of physiological effects of CO; extensive forensic study (2,241 cases) of CO deaths in fires and non-fires in the late 1970's and early 1980's; extensive forensic study (2,637 cases) of CO deaths in fires and non-fires between before the plastics era and today; statistical analyses of forensic data to ensure full separation of variables; and, finally analysis of relevance of these effects to fire fatalities and of importance (or lack of it) of small scale toxicity tests. This book is of interest to universities and research institutions with an interest in fire, combustion, technology and polymers. Further, it will appeal to a wide variety of industries (eg chemical, plastics, textiles, wire and cable, furniture, construction and packaging) as well as government administrators, code officials, fire brigades, medical coroners and physicians.