Abstract

Aim: Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless and odorless gas. This non-irritating gas is produced by the combustion of carbon-containing compounds in the presence of insufficient oxygen. Because it is non-irritating, exposure is often detected late, which can lead to severe injury or death. This study aimed to discuss the mortality rates due to CO poisoning in our country, examining the factors and etiology of CO poisoning through the example of Gaziantep province, and to raise awareness about preventable accidents.
Materials and Methods: Postmortem examinations—including external examination, autopsy, toxicological, and histopathological analyses—and forensic investigations conducted in Gaziantep over a three-year period between 2022 and 2024 were included to identify deaths caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. Cases were evaluated based on age, gender, month, season, origin, time to death, CO source, and carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels.
Results: It was determined that 41 of 3274 forensic cases died due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Among the cases, 31.7% were female and 68.3% male. The highest recorded COHb level was 78.6%, and the lowest was 17%. The majority of poisonings were attributed to gas originating from stoves.
Conclusion: The findings of this study were generally consistent with the existing literature. No cases of suicidal CO poisoning were identified in the region; all deaths were determined to result from preventable accidents. Implementing necessary precautions is essential to reduce such fatalities. Taking the necessary precautions, conducting annual maintenance of stoves and heaters, and installing CO alarms in homes will reduce fatalities caused by CO poisoning.

Key words: Forensic medicine, Forensic death, carbon monoxide poisoning