Unintentional carbon monoxide deaths in California from residential and other nonvehicular sources

To investigate risk factors of unintentional carbon monoxide deaths in Cali fornia from nonvehicular sources, we identified 270 deaths resulting from n onvehicular sources of carbon monoxide poisoning from death certificates an d coroners' investigation reports. Data recorded between 1979 and 1988 in t he state of California on risk factors and carbon monoxide sources were abs tracted from investigation reports. We also used census and state statistic s to calculate rates and relative risks. The highest rates, which occurred in winter, were found among males, African Americans, and the elderly. Rela tive risks On parentheses) were higher among individuals who (a) lived in m ultiunit dwellings (2.1), (b) dwelled in mobile/trailer homes (4.7), and (c ) resided in temporary shelters (30.0) than among individuals who lived in single-family houses (1.0). Unvented combustion heating appliances and char coal fuel were associated significantly with the risks of fatal unintention al carbon monoxide poisoning.