[Carbon monoxide poisoning based on the autopsy material collected at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Białystok in the years 2004-2006].

INTRODUCTION The objective of the paper was the presentation of observations and conclusions based on the review of autopsy records collected at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Białystok in the years 2004-2006. MATERIAL AND METHODS The criteria under evaluation included sex, age, alcohol level, carboxyhemoglobin concentration and site of poisoning. The COHb level was determined by the Wolff's method. CONCLUSIONS In a total of 1331 autopsies 66 (4.96%) cases of fatal carbon monoxide poisonings were reported, including 11 females and 55 males (16.7% and 83.3%, respectively). The primary cause of poisoning were blazes in flats, houses and farm buildings (80.3%). Apparent seasonal pattern of poisoning incidences was found, with a significant increase in the fall-winter period. Mean COHb concentrations in females and in males were 73.9% and 56.3%, respectively. The lowest COHb concentration (46%) was noted in the age group 0-10 years and the highest (75.5%) in the age group 41-50 years, which corresponds to the values reported previously. Fatalities included 23 sober persons (34.8%) with mean COHb 58.5% and 43 non-sober persons (65.1%) with mean COHb 57.0%. The prevalence of non-sober fatalities corresponds to the values reported previously. The highest concentrations of carboxyhemoglobin--67.2% and 58.4%, were determined in the alcohol level ranged of 3.1-4.0 per thousand and 1.1-2.0 per thousand, respectively, which only partly correspond to previous results.